Shanghai Masters: Zverev reaches the semi-finals; on Friday, Jodar and Medvedev chase the other two

The Rolex Shanghai Masters already knows its first semi-final: Alexander Zverev (1) against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (25). The German dismissed Alex de Minaur (9) 6-4, 6-4 in 78 minutes on Thursday, while the Spaniard advanced when Arthur Gea stopped due to a psoas injury with Davidovich leading 4-1 in the opening set. Two quarter-finals are still to be played on Friday on Qi Zhong Tennis Center's centre court (from 2:30 PM local): Rafael Jodar–Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev–Tommy Paul, with Sunday's final on the horizon. In a draw that has already lost Alcaraz, Shelton and Djokovic, four contenders remain to settle the last two spots.

Zverev's best version of the tournament

Zverev produced his most solid performance of the week against De Minaur: he saved three break points in the first set (to hold for 4-2) and two more in the second (3-3), finished with 10 aces and won 80% of points behind his first serve (35/44). "I felt good and I'm happy with the step up from the past couple of matches," said the German, now 9-4 up in his head-to-head with the Australian.

It is Zverev's third Shanghai semi-final (2018, 2019 and 2026), his first since 2019, and he reaches Saturday with the year-end World No. 1 honours already secured, 62 wins this season and the 10,000 ranking points barrier broken for the first time in his career.

'Foki's' unexpected rest

Davidovich Fokina was leading 4-1 against Gea when the Frenchman — the man who knocked out Shelton this week — called it a day because of a psoas injury. "It would have been too dangerous for the end of the season," said Gea after retiring from the pair's first tour-level meeting. "I feel sorry for him, but I'm happy to be in the next round; I've been on court a lot of time, and my body has to recover," said the Spaniard, who now enjoys two extra days off before Saturday.

It is Davidovich's fourth Masters 1000 semi-final, and he arrives fresh after outlasting Tiafoe and Hurkacz in deciding-set tie-breaks. In the semi-finals he will meet Zverev, a rival he has beaten only once in seven meetings (Canada 2023).

Friday: Jodar against history

Jodar is one match away from writing his name into the tournament's record books. Aged 20 years and one month, the Spaniard would become the youngest semi-finalist in Shanghai Masters history; the current record belongs to Tsitsipas (21 years and 2 months, 2019). The Spaniard, who has reached the quarter-finals coming from a set down in each of his three matches (Tirante, Lehecka and Van de Zandschulp), is World No. 13 — with a career-high of No. 11 —, is 41-16 in his first full season on tour, has won 9 of his last 11 matches against Top-30 opponents and has made four quarter-finals in his last five Masters 1000s. He leads the Next Gen Race and, with a win on Friday, would climb to No. 9 in the Race to Turin, passing Djokovic and De Minaur. It would also be the third time two Spaniards feature in the Shanghai semi-finals: Lopez and Nadal (2009) and Ferrer and Lopez (2011) did it before.

On the other side of the net, Casper Ruud: the Norwegian has completed the set of quarter-finals at all nine Masters 1000s of the calendar this week and is chasing his first hard-court Masters 1000 semi-final since 2022 (Miami and Montreal). He owns two Top-20 wins this week — Tien and a retirement from Auger-Aliassime at 5-2 — and would be the first Scandinavian in the Shanghai semi-finals. It will be his first meeting with Jodar.

Medvedev, the last champion standing

The only former champion left in the draw is Daniil Medvedev (2019), and the Russian feels right at home in China: he is 17-5 in Shanghai and 10-1 in the country this season, with a title in Hangzhou and a semi-final in Beijing. He is chasing his 70th tour-level semi-final — it would be his 19th at Masters 1000 level, joint ninth-most in series history with Berdych and Hewitt — and is already the fourth player, after Federer, Djokovic and Murray, to reach the quarter-finals three years in a row.

Awaiting him is Tommy Paul, who is chasing his fifth Masters 1000 semi-final and would become the third American semi-finalist in Shanghai after Korda (2023) and Fritz (2024). The World No. 18 arrives fresh from halting Bergs — Alcaraz's conqueror — 7-6(5), 6-4 and, although he is 16-33 against Top-10 opposition, he did beat Zverev in Cincinnati this year. The head-to-head favours the Russian 4-1: Paul's only win came in Rome 2024.

The quarter-final rackets

• Alexander Zverev — Head Gravity Tour Zverev 2026from 228,95 € (his player page): the limited edition he won Roland Garros and the US Open with is into the semi-finals.
• Rafael Jodar — Head Speed MP 2026from 195,49 € (his page): the Speed family he shares with Djokovic, in the hands of Spain's rising star.
• Daniil Medvedev — Tecnifibre TFight 305Sfrom 209,99 € (his page): French control for the last champion standing.
• Tommy Paul — Yonex VCORE 98 (8th gen)from 236,95 € (brand-new player page): the VCORE 98 Yonex officially lists as his racquet now has its player page in the catalog.
• Arthur Gea — Yonex EZONE 98 (8th gen)from 247,99 €: the EZONE 98 he knocked Shelton out with, retired injured on Thursday.

Still without a catalog entry: Davidovich Fokina (Head Extreme MP) and Casper Ruud (Yonex EZONE 100).