Medvedev and Jodar Advance at Shanghai Masters Tennis

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 17, 2026

Daniil Medvedev defeated Tommy Paul in a three-set quarterfinal to reach the Shanghai Masters semifinals, improving his chances to qualify for the ATP Finals. He will face rising star Rafael Jodar, who became the youngest semifinalist in Shanghai history after upsetting Casper Ruud, marking a major milestone in his breakthrough season.

Former world number one Daniil Medvedev advanced to the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters on Friday after defeating Tommy Paul in a three-set quarterfinal match. Medvedev, seeded fifth, overcame the 15th-seeded American 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a contest lasting two hours and eight minutes. The Russian hit 16 aces and 31 winners as he secured his 70th tour-level semifinal appearance, bolstering his prospects for a spot at the ATP Finals in Turin. Medvedev, 30, rebounded strongly after losing the second set, capitalizing on a drop in Paul’s performance to improve his career head-to-head record against the American to 5-1.

In the other quarterfinal, 20-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar produced a notable upset by defeating 20th-seeded Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Jodar’s victory marked his fourth consecutive comeback from a set down at a Masters 1000 event and made him the youngest semifinalist in the history of the Shanghai Masters. The 12th seed broke Ruud five times over the final two sets in a tightly contested match lasting two hours and 20 minutes. After securing a crucial break to lead 5-4 in the second set and serving it out to love, Jodar raised his level in the decider, breaking Ruud three additional times to close out the win.

This deep run in Shanghai marks a significant milestone in Jodar’s breakthrough season. Having been ranked 903 in the world just over a year ago, Jodar has rapidly climbed the rankings, entering the top 50 after winning his first ATP title in Morocco earlier this year. He has also reached semifinals in Barcelona and Montreal and made quarterfinals in both Madrid and Rome. Shanghai is his fifth semifinal appearance of the season and his second at a Masters 1000 event. Jodar has stated he remains focused on continued improvement as he looks ahead to upcoming tournaments.

Medvedev will face Jodar in the semifinals for the first time in their careers. Medvedev commented on his young opponent’s game, noting Jodar’s powerful shotmaking and expressing anticipation for their matchup. The other semifinal will see top seed and two-time Grand Slam champion Alexander Zverev play against Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Medvedev is the only former Shanghai Masters champion left in this year’s draw, having won the tournament in 2019. He also claimed his third title of the season in Hangzhou last month.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.