Jódar, after touching glory in Shanghai: "I gave it my all, but today it wasn't meant to be"

Fernando Murciego - 18 Oct 2026 | 14:24
ATP ATP Shanghái 2026 Rafael Jódar Alejandro Davidovich Rueda de prensa

The Madrid native was just a breath away from conquering his first Masters 1000 in Shanghai and breaking several records, but he ran out of gas in the final stretch of the match and watched as glory fell into the hands of Davidovich.

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Rafa Jódar doesn't hide after falling in Shanghai: "There are many things to improve." Source: Getty

Let's be honest, looking at the first set of the final of this 2026 Shanghai Masters 1000, it's impossible to criticize Rafa Jódar. The problem came later, when Alejandro Davidovich raised his level, started to compete better, and the match ended up being decided on the margins. A couple of details that both players emphasized afterwards.

Jódar's press conference was short, barely four questions where the answers were consistently brief, almost unnoticed. The Madrilenian didn't seem very eager to talk, having been just a couple of points away from making history this Sunday in Shanghai. Perhaps that's why it stung more, although we later saw him very composed both at the net and during the trophy presentation ceremony. So what happened when it came time to speak with reporters?

Well, the truth is, not much happened, if not to say nothing happened. Very light questions that Rafa also did not want to reward. Why did he lose the final? What was missing? Wasn't it obvious that he faltered physically in the last games of the third set? I hope that over time he will lose that shyness he has in front of the microphone and can share much more of what he's thinking, but for now we must settle for these brief conferences where it’s hard to find a headline. Perhaps if he had come out as champion it would have been a little different, but we will never know.

A week to confirm his growth

"It has been a great week. I played many matches and there are many things to improve for the next tournament. I didn't achieve victory today, but I am still happy with how things are going."

Rafa Jódar explains why he lost the Shanghai final

"He was also playing well. I think there were small details in the second set where he played better than I did, and that’s why he managed to come back. In the third set everything was very even, but on break points he played better. No, it was the same as any other tennis match. I simply tried to enjoy the moment and the match. I gave it my all, but today it wasn't meant to be."

The University of Virginia, a bond that remains

"I keep in touch with them, I have a great relationship with all my teammates and also with the coaches. When I have free time, I try to call them or even go back there, because I have many good memories from my time in Virginia. I will always be grateful for having spent a year there."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jódar, tras rozar la gloria en Shanghái: "Di todo lo que tenía, pero hoy no pudo ser"