The Shanghai Rolex Masters reaches its conclusion as the Final takes center stage at one of the ATP Masters 1000 tour's most prestigious hard-court events. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafael Jodar, separated by just one spot in the rankings, square off for the title in what shapes up as a genuinely open contest.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Rafael Jodar - Final
With Davidovich Fokina ranked 22nd and Jodar ranked 23rd in the world, this Final features two players at virtually identical levels according to the ATP standings. That razor-thin gap at the top of the rankings suggests neither man arrives as a clear favorite, and the complete absence of betting odds only reinforces how evenly matched the market considers them. Adding another layer of intrigue is the fact that the two have never previously met on tour: the head-to-head record stands at 0-0, meaning there is no prior data to lean on and no psychological edge for either player heading into the biggest match of this Shanghai campaign. Whatever has carried each man through the draw to this point, Sunday's Final will be decided entirely on the day's performance, with no historical precedent between them to guide predictions.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in three sets, edging a fellow Spaniard in a Final that the rankings suggest could go either way.
