SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON, October 14, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
World No. 13 Rafael Jodar battled back from a set down and advanced to his fourth quarterfinal in his last five ATP Masters 1000 events with a 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 41 Botic van de Zandschulp at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Wednesday afternoon.
The 20-year-old from Madrid with the fighting spirit joined Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarterfinals to mark the first time two Spaniards have reached the Shanghai last eight since Rafael Nadal and Albert Ramos-Viñolas in 2017. He’s also the second-youngest Shanghai quarterfinalist in the tournament’s history.
Jodar denied the 31-year-old van de Zandschulp, a two-time US Open quarterfinalist, of reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 and becoming the first Dutch quarterfinalist in tournament history.
Second-youngest Shanghai quarter-finalist 👏
Rafael Jodar defeats Botic van de Zandschulp to reach the last 8!
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/Vi78zyDnM3
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 14, 2026
“I’m very happy how the week is going for me,” Jodar said during a mixed zone interview after earning his 41st victory of the season. “In this case, I’ve already done three comebacks, losing the first set in all three matches.”
Indeed, Jodar rallied from a set down during earlier tournament victories over No. 54 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina and World No. 23 and 22nd-seeded Jiri Lehecka of Czechia. Now, with his third-straight three-set victory, he’s through to another ATP Tour quarterfinal.
“But I’m very proud of my fight and the spirit of fighting always, and super happy to be in the quarterfinals here for the first time in Shanghai,” he added.
View this post on Instagram
Jodar won 70 percent (47 of 67) of his first-serve points, converted four of nine break-point chances and outpointed van de Zandschulp 107-90 during their two-hour, 30-minute skirmish on Stadium Court.
Next, Jodar will face No. 20 seed Casper Ruud of Norway, who advanced to the quarterfinals by injury retirement over World No. 5 and fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada. The 24th-ranked Ruud led 5-2 after 35 minutes when Auger-Aliassime was forced to retire due to a knee injury.
An unfortunate ending 💔
@CasperRuud98 moves into the quarter-finals after Auger-Aliassime is forced to retire with Ruud leading 5-2 in the opening set.
@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/0NUYp1HeUR
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2026
Ruud, who broke Auger-Aliassime to go ahead 3-1, outpointed Auger-Aliassime 23-16. He has now reached the quarterfinals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. The victory was Ruud’s fourth in nine career meetings against Auger-Aliassime. It was his first Top-5 win since Madrid in 2025 and first on a hard court since the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals.
“I’m very sorry for him, because it’s a big match for both of us,” Ruud said during his mixed zone interview afterward. “I know what kind of player he is, what kind of person he is – very nice person – so you don’t wish this for anybody. I hope he has a speedy recovery.”
Nothing but respect from @CasperRuud98 🤝
@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/mHyeldrrnq
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2026
Medvedev, only former champ, still alive in draw
World No. 6 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who is the only former Shanghai champion left in this year’s draw, improved his career head-to-head against No. 43 Stefanos Tsitsipas to 11-5 after defeating the Greek star, 6-4, 7-5, in one hour and 24 minutes on Stadium Court.
The 2019 Shanghai champion and this year’s fifth seed earned his ATP Tour-leading 32nd hard-court win and joined Andy Murray (2010-12), Novak Djokovic (2012-16) and Roger Federer (2017-19) as the only men to advance to the Rolex Shanghai Masters quarterfinals in three consecutive years. His victory also lifted him from No. 10 to No. 8 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
Rising to the occasion 🔥
The moment @DaniilMedwed booked his place in the Shanghai final eight.
@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/Ns8dHyYC1T
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 14, 2026
“I love Shanghai as a city,” Medvedev said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “It is one of my favorite stops on Tour, so trying to stay as long as possible. I am playing great. Today was a different game style than on the Grandstand. But served great, zero break points to face, so I am very happy about it.”
Medvedev, who is yet to drop a set in Shanghai, hit 25 winners and made just 10 unforced errors. He won 85 percent (33 of 39) of his first-serve points, did not face any break points on his serve and broke Tsitsipas’s serve twice in seven tries. He outpointed his opponent, 68-57.
View this post on Instagram
“I think when you get in the quarters of a Masters, let’s put it this way, everyone should be afraid of everyone,” Medvedev said. “Because, like, Bergs beat Alcaraz, Paul beat Vacherot, the defending champion, and I guess I’m playing them.
“So, they are playing great as well, but just trying to play my best level. When I’m playing my best level, I know that I’m tough to beat.”
Next, Medvedev will face No. 15 seed Tommy Paul of the United States, who eased past No. 39 Zizou Bergs of Belgium, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in one hour and 49 minutes on Stadium Court Wednesday evening, as he continues his pursuit of his fourth ATP Tour title of the season and his first at ATP Masters 1000 level since 2023.
“I know sometimes it’s tough to back up a really big win like that one, so I wasn’t sure how [Zizou] was going to come out and play,” Paul said during his on-court interview with ATP Media, responding to a question about what he expected from Bergs, who upset World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round. “Would he keep the momentum going or be a little nervous? I thought he served well at the start of the match and I thought he picked up his level at the end.”
The American gets it done 💪
@TommyPaul1 overcomes Bergs 7-6 6-4 and rounds off fourth-round action!
#RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/kUTue3lRmO
— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 14, 2026
Paul, who secured match point on his first opportunity, won 16 of 18 exchanges at the net and outpointed Bergs 78-74. Now, he’s through to the last eight stage in Shanghai for the first time and it’s his third ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal of the season – and ninth overall. Paul has also joined Andy Roddick and Taylor Fritz as the only American men to reach the quarterfinals of all six current hard-court ATP Masters 1000 events since 2009.
“Consistency is something I’ve taken pride in for a while,” Paul said. “This has been a nice bounce-back week for me [after losing in the first round last tournament]. I feel like I’m playing some good tennis. The conditions are pretty good for me here. I’m excited to keep going and to get to the next round.”
Zverev reacts to achieving ATP Year-End No. 1 honors
For now, it seems, the pressure is off Alexander Zverev. The current World No. 2 from Germany will ascend to ATP World No. 1 by the end of the season as a result of current World No. 1 Jannik Sinner shutting down his 2026 campaign due to a right knee injury. Very few people get to experience becoming the No. 1 player on the ATP Tour.
After Zverev’s fourth-round victory over No. 19 seed Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan that advanced him to the quarterfinal round, he spoke about how he has reflected on the journey and handled the news emotionally.
View this post on Instagram
“I think the emotions come when you actually see the No. 1 next to your name,” Zverev said during a mixed-zone interview Tuesday after collecting his tour-leading 61st victory of the season. “I think that will be, for sure, something special.”
During his on-court interview with ATP Media, he added: “It’s different than winning tournaments or winning Grand Slams. It’s a different kind of feeling. I feel like as the World No. 1 you have a responsibility placed on your shoulders. I’m looking forward to that. I’m nearly 30 years-old and it’s a special feeling for me to achieve that at my age.”
Around the Rolex Shanghai Masters
In doubles, two quarterfinals took place on Show Court 3. First, No. 3 seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz of Germany, last year’s Shanghai champions, fell to No. 8 seeds Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti of France, 6-4, 6-4. The victory lifted the French duo into their second ATP Masters 1000 semifinal of the season after Montreal.
Then, Francisco Cabral of Portugal and JJ Tracy of the United States defeated Robert Galloway of the United States and Andre Goransson of Sweden, 6-3, 6-4, to move into the semifinal round against Arribage and Olivetti.
Wednesday’s Shanghai Masters results
By the numbers
With his fourth-round victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz Tuesday evening, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain has won seven consecutive matches on Chinese soil going back to his title run two weeks ago in Chengdu. He won four straight to win the Chengdu title. Then, after bowing in the first round of the Japan Open, Davidovich Fokina has put together three more victories in Shanghai – the last two going the distance.
“Quotable …”
“I don’t think it’s miracle when you work hard every day, but I hope to do the same [as Valentin Vacherot last year]. But as I said, I’m still far from it, and I will just go on the next match believing I can do it, and let’s see what happens.”
– No. 56 Arthur Gea of France, during his mixed-zone interview Tuesday after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, in his first ATP Masters 1000 event.
