A conclusion among friends: this is how other Spanish finals in Masters 1000 went

Fernando Murciego - 18 Oct 2026 | 08:00
ATP Masters 1000 ATP Shanghái 2026 Alejandro Davidovich Rafael Jódar Rafael Nadal

Tomorrow, the men's circuit will see one of our own conquer Shanghai for the first time. Will it be Davidovich or Jódar? Before solving this equation, let's travel back to the past to remember what the other Masters 1000 finals between Spaniards were.

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These were all the Masters 1000 finals between Spanish players. Source: Getty

Who would have said that the outcome of this Masters 1000 in Shanghai would be starring two Spanish tennis players and that neither of them would be Carlos Alcaraz? We are left speechless to explain the success of our tennis, this time astonished by the tremendous level shown by Alejandro Davidovich and Rafa Jódar.

It will be a final that brings together all possible incentives. We will have a new Masters 1000 champion, updates in the race for the ATP Finals, and we could even have a new top 10 next Monday. What we will definitely have is our chests puffed up and filled with pride for seeing, almost a decade later, a final between Spaniards in a tournament of this category. History has already seen this movie eight times before, although all of them were on clay.

Hamburg 1996: Roberto Carretero surprises Álex Corretja

The first Spanish final on this list featured Roberto Carretero and Álex Corretja in Hamburg. Carretero, who had reached the main draw from the qualifying round, ended up winning one of the most unexpected titles in the history of Spanish tennis. Corretja took the first set 6-2, but the Madrid native responded to win 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, and 6-4. That victory represented the greatest success of Carretero's career and opened a series of national confrontations for major titles.

Hamburg 1998: Albert Costa triumphs over Corretja again

Two years later, Hamburg reunited two Spaniards in the final, with Corretja making another appearance and Albert Costa as the rival. This time, the outcome was much quicker. Costa dominated the match and established a lead of 6-2, 6-0, and 1-0 when Corretja had to retire. The Catalan was once again on the brink of the title, while Costa added one of the most important trophies of his career.

Hamburg 2001: Albert Portas withstands Juan Carlos Ferrero

The third Spanish final in Hamburg came in 2001 and offered one of the most contested outcomes on this list. Albert Portas and Juan Carlos Ferrero engaged in a five-set battle, with constant shifts and a dramatic finish. Ferrero took the first set 6-4, Portas responded in the second, and the Valencian pulled ahead again in the third. However, Portas forced a fifth set and ultimately triumphed 4-6, 6-2, 0-6, 7-6(5), and 7-5.

Montecarlo 2002: Ferrero takes revenge

A year later, Ferrero had another chance to lift a Masters 1000 title against a compatriot, this time in Montecarlo against Carlos Moyà. The Valencian did not let the opportunity slip by and won in three sets, 7-5, 6-3, and 6-4. It was an important victory for Ferrero, who managed to transfer his great level on clay to one of the most emblematic stages on the calendar. Moyà, for his part, had to settle for the runner-up position.

Montecarlo 2010: Rafael Nadal gives no options to Fernando Verdasco

The 2010 Montecarlo final featured two players who knew each other perfectly: Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco. The Balearic turned that duel into a showcase from start to finish and barely granted any chances to his rival. The result, a resounding 6-0 and 6-1, reflected the difference between the two that afternoon. Nadal continued to build his extraordinary record in the Principality, while Verdasco left empty-handed despite reaching one of the most important finals of his career.

Rome 2010: Nadal overcomes David Ferrer

That same year, Nadal and David Ferrer brought their Spanish rivalry to Rome. The final was more competitive than that of Montecarlo, although the outcome once again favored the man from Manacor. Nadal won 7-5 and 6-2 to lift another Masters 1000 title on clay. Ferrer once again proved his ability to compete with the best on this surface but found himself up against a Nadal who dominated the major clay tournaments with authority.

Montecarlo 2011: Nadal stops Ferrer again

A year later, Ferrer had another chance to conquer Montecarlo against Nadal. The Alicante native fought back once more, but the Balearic won the match 6-4 and 7-5. It was another demonstration of Nadal's consistency in the Principality, where he strung together titles during a practically unrepeatable period. Ferrer, one of Spain's great clay specialists, again fell just short of glory in a tournament that the man from Manacor turned into his own territory.

Montecarlo 2017: Nadal closes the series before Shanghai

The last Spanish final before the one in Shanghai took place in Montecarlo in 2017. Nadal faced Albert Ramos-Viñolas, who had an extraordinary week to reach the final. However, the Balearic imposed his experience and superiority on clay to win 6-1 and 6-3. That victory was Nadal's tenth title in Montecarlo and the eighth Spanish final on this list. Since then, no Masters 1000 has offered a completely national confrontation again.

Shanghai 2026: Davidovich and Jódar open a different chapter

Nine years later, Alejandro Davidovich and Rafa Jódar once again put two Spaniards face to face in a Masters 1000 final. The Málaga native reached the decisive match after overcoming Alexander Zverev, while the Madrid player defeated Daniil Medvedev to debut in a final of this category. The Shanghai match also has a unique characteristic: it will be the first Spanish final of a Masters 1000 that is not played on clay, but on hard court. Regardless of what happens, Spanish tennis will have a new champion in a tournament that had previously eluded it.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Un desenlace entre amigos: así fueron las otras finales españolas en Masters 1000