Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev

SHANGHAI (AP) — Rafael Jodar became the youngest semifinalist in Shanghai Masters history on Friday and will next meet Daniil Medvedev.

The 20-year-old Spaniard rallied to a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win against Casper Ruud, while Medvedev overcame American Tommy Paul 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

It was the fourth straight match at the ATP Masters 1000 event in which Jodar had mounted a comeback from losing the first set.

“Casper, I think, played the important points in the first set better than me,” Jodar said. “I couldn’t win the break points because of his serve, so I knew I wanted to come back again. It was very tough, so I had to give my best level today to win this match.”

Jodar powered to victory in 2 hours 20 minutes by breaking Ruud’s serve five times in the second and third sets.

Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev | iNFOnews.ca
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev returns a ball to United States’ Tommy Paul during the men’s singles quarterfinals match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Medvedev, a former Shanghai Masters champion, looked in trouble when losing the second set but recovered to claim victory in 2 hours 9 minutes.

“I think today I was a tiny bit off from time to time but the third set was great,” Medvedev said. “I managed to regroup myself and serve better in the third and get the win, which is a great feeling.”

Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev | iNFOnews.ca
Spain’s Rafael Jodar celebrates after winning the men’s singles quarterfinals match against Norway’s Casper Ruud at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev | iNFOnews.ca
Norway’s Casper Ruud returns a ball to Spain’s Rafael Jodar during the men’s singles quarterfinals match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Jodar beats Ruud to make Shanghai Masters history and set up semifinal against Medvedev | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Tommy Paul reacts during play against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles quarterfinals match at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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