Zverev vs Davidovich Fokina - 10:30 CET
Match news and form
Alexander Zverev's quarter-final day in Shanghai was close to perfect, for more than one reason.
After three underwhelming performances in the earlier rounds, two of which went the distance, he dominated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4, peaking at the right time as champions tend to do.
The result also brought a much-needed top-10 win. Despite an otherwise successful season, he has struggled against fellow top players this year, drawing criticism he will be keen to silence, and the victory over De Minaur was only his third top-10 win in 11 attempts.
The German has always found comfort on the Masters stage. Even when he was being battered at the Grand Slams in pursuit of a maiden major, Masters events were kind to him, and he has seven titles at this level. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic has reached more Masters semi-finals.
Yet he is now enduring a surprising drought, without a Masters title since Paris in 2024. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner both absent, he will see Shanghai as a golden opportunity to end it.
When fortune turns your way, everything seems to fall into place, and that is exactly what Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is experiencing.
Having never won a tour-level final before, he has lifted two titles in the last four months. He is also winning the tight battles that used to escape him, including deciding-set tiebreaks, long a major weakness.
In Shanghai, the Spaniard arrived at the quarter-finals physically stretched after back-to-back three-setters and looked vulnerable. However, it was Arthur Gea who got injured and retired at 4-1 down in the first set. That handed Davidovich Fokina both a much-needed rest and a semi-final place, extending an excellent Asian swing that will lift him back into the top 20 next week.
Head-to-head
Zverev leads 6-1. The German has dominated this matchup, winning six of their seven meetings, four of them in straight sets.
Notably, his last two wins came at the Masters level, in Madrid and Paris in 2025.
Stats & facts
- Zverev has a losing 13-14 record in Masters semi-finals, with eight of those defeats coming against Sinner, Alcaraz or Djokovic.
- Zverev holds an impressive 53-4 record against players outside the top 20 this year.
- Davidovich Fokina has played just three Masters semi-finals, losing two of them.
- Davidovich Fokina is 5-17 against top-five players in his career.
Betting analysis
Zverev's recent performances may not have been especially impressive, but this is the kind of opponent he usually finds a way to beat. As their rivalry has shown, the German is normally too solid and consistent for the volatile Davidovich Fokina.
Expect this semi-final to follow the same script, with Zverev well placed to reach his second Shanghai final after finishing runner-up in 2019.
Zverev in 2026
Best results: US Open, French Open (title); Wimbledon, Madrid (final)
Best results on outdoor hard courts: US Open (title)
Record: 62-15
Record in the last 10 matches: 8-2
Record on outdoor hard courts: 30-8
Record against top-30 players: 21-12 (career 193-150)
Record in ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals: 1-3 (career 13-14)
Record in semi-finals: 4-6 (career 44-44)
Grand Slams: Australian Open (semi-finals), French Open (title), Wimbledon (final), US Open (title)
Zverev at the Rolex Shanghai Masters
Career record: 17-7
Best result: Final (2019)
Last year's result: Round of 32
Record in semi-finals: 1-1
Preparation: Beijing (quarter-finals)
Road to the semi-finals: Bye, Yibing Wu (6-4, 7-6), Halys (6-4, 6-7, 6-3), Bublik (7-6, 4-6, 7-6), De Minaur (6-4, 6-4)
Davidovich in 2026
Best results: Chengdu, Mallorca (title)
Best results on outdoor hard courts: Chengdu (title)
Record: 31-16
Record in the last 10 matches: 8-2
Record on outdoor hard courts: 15-7
Record against top-10 players: 1-2 (career 13-36)
Record in ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals: 0-0 (career 1-2)
Record in semi-finals: 2-1 (career 7-7)
Grand Slams: Australian Open (round of 32), French Open (round of 64), Wimbledon (round of 16), US Open (did not play)
Davidovich at the Rolex Shanghai Masters
Career record: 6-3
Best result: Semi-finals (2026)
Last year's result: Round of 32
Record in semi-finals: 0-0
Preparation: Chengdu (title), Tokyo (round of 32)
Road to the semi-finals: Bye, Brooksby (6-1, 6-3), Tiafoe (7-6, 4-6, 7-6), Hurkacz (1-6, 6-3, 7-6), Gea (4-1 ret.)
Jodar vs Medvedev - 13:00 CET
Match news and form
Rafael Jodar's Shanghai debut has been an exceptional display of fighting spirit and mental strength.
He arrived on a three-match tour losing streak, with a physically taxing US Open Series beginning to take its toll, which is entirely understandable for any player in his first full season of top-level tennis. He has turned that around through sheer willingness to dig in and keep his ATP Finals dream alive.
All four of his matches this week have gone the distance, and he has lost the first set every time, yet he has found a way to win on each occasion, including against established names Jiri Lehecka and Casper Ruud.
The Spaniard is now the youngest semi-finalist in Shanghai Masters history, and the run has done a world of good for his ATP Finals hopes. He has climbed to eighth place in the race, the final qualifying spot. Even more could be unlocked this week.
Winning the title would bring his top-10 debut, and having only broken into the top 100 in March, he would set a new record for the shortest time between a top-100 and top-10 debut. That mark has stood since Boris Becker set it in 1985. Breaking it, though, will demand even greater physical and mental effort.
Daniil Medvedev is also fighting for an ATP Finals place and to maintain a strong footing inside the top 10 of the ATP rankings, which demanded a big result in Shanghai with semi-final points to defend. He has delivered.
His form has been impressive throughout the Asian swing and has continued here, with a straight-sets win over long-time rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in the last 16. He followed that with a three-set victory over a dangerous-looking Tommy Paul, ensuring he has protected the semi-final points he earned here last year.
The Russian has statistically been the best hard-court player this year, with a 34-9 record, a source of real satisfaction for someone who takes such pride in his achievements on the surface.
A dominant early-season stretch brought him the Dubai title and a runner-up finish at Indian Wells, and he appears to be matching that level on the Asian swing. He began with the title in Hangzhou before his disqualification in the Beijing semi-finals, where he was on the verge of defeat against Novak Djokovic. He has rebounded superbly to reach the semi-finals in Shanghai, where he has a solid record as the 2019 champion.
Head-to-head
Jodar and Medvedev have never met before.
Stats & facts
- Jodar has just one win in six matches against top-10 players, and he is 0-3 against them on hard courts.
- Jodar's only previous Masters semi-final came recently in Canada, where he lost in straight sets to Brandon Nakashima.
- Medvedev has won 11 of his 18 Masters semi-finals, with a 1-1 record at this stage in 2026.
- Medvedev is yet to lose a completed match on the Asian swing, winning all 11.
Betting analysis
Jodar's habit of fighting back and dragging matches the distance makes him a particularly tricky opponent for Medvedev. The Russian has suffered several costly mental meltdowns in recent times, most notably in last week's Beijing semi-final, so keeping his composure will be key.
Otherwise, everything points Medvedev's way. He has a terrific record in Shanghai; is used to big matches at this stage, having faced Jannik Sinner, Djokovic, and Carlos Alcaraz in the past; and is in good form.
He is also in far better physical shape than Jodar, and should win provided he stays calm and brings his best tennis.
Jodar in 2026
Best results: Marrakech (title); Washington (final)
Best results on outdoor hard courts: Washington (final)
Record: 55-17
Record in the last 10 matches: 7-3
Record on outdoor hard courts: 30-11
Record against top-10 players: 1-5 (career 1-5)
Record in ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals: 0-1 (career 0-1)
Record in semi-finals: 2-2 (career 2-2)
Grand Slams: Australian Open (round of 64), French Open (quarter-finals), Wimbledon (round of 32), US Open (round of 128)
Jodar at the Rolex Shanghai Masters
Career record: 4-0
Best result: Semi-finals (2026)
Last year's result: Did not play
Record in semi-finals: 0-0
Preparation: Tokyo (round of 32)
Road to the semi-finals: Bye, Tirante (4-6, 6-2, 6-3), (22) Lehecka (4-6, 7-6, 6-4), Van de Zandschulp (6-7, 6-4, 6-2), Ruud (4-6, 6-4, 6-3)
Medvedev in 2026
Best results: Hangzhou, Dubai, Brisbane (title); Indian Wells (final)
Best results on outdoor hard courts: Hangzhou, Dubai, Brisbane (title); Indian Wells (final)
Record: 45-17
Record in the last 10 matches: 9-1
Record on outdoor hard courts: 34-9
Record against top-20 players: 4-6 (career 110-86)
Record in ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals: 1-1 (career 11-7)
Record in semi-finals: 4-3 (career 44-25)
Grand Slams: Australian Open (round of 16), French Open (round of 128), Wimbledon (round of 32), US Open (round of 16)
Medvedev at the Rolex Shanghai Masters
Career record: 18-5
Best result: Title (2019)
Last year's result: Semi-finals
Record in semi-finals: 1-1
Preparation: Hangzhou (title), Beijing (semi-finals)
Road to the semi-finals: Bye, Struff (4-6, 6-4, 6-3), Svrcina (6-2, 6-3), Tsitsipas (6-4, 7-5), Paul (6-3, 1-6, 6-3)