Davidovich Fokina Rallies Past Hurkacz Into Shanghai QFs

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina just keeps living on the edge in Shanghai. The Spaniard got crushed 6-1 in the first set by 2023 champion Hubert Hurkacz, then stormed back to win 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) on Tuesday and book a spot in the Rolex Shanghai Masters quarterfinals.

It was his second straight win in a third-set tiebreak. In the previous round he saved a match point to get past Frances Tiafoe, so this guy is clearly comfortable with his back against the wall.

From blown out to locked in

The opening set was all Hurkacz. The big-serving Pole was playing in Shanghai for the first time since he lifted the trophy in 2023, and early on he looked ready to do it again.

Then Davidovich Fokina found his rhythm. He took the second set 6-3 to force a decider, and the third went the distance. In the tiebreak he edged it 8-6, converting his third match point to finish off a wild ending.

The win snapped Hurkacz's nine-match winning streak at this event, a run that included his title three years ago. Hurkacz had already knocked out Novak Djokovic earlier this week, so this is a big scalp.

A red-hot fall

This is not a random hot week. Davidovich Fokina broke through for his first ATP title in Mallorca in June and backed it up by winning Chengdu two weeks ago, beating Hurkacz in that final too. He is chasing a third tour title this week.

He now leads Hurkacz 6-2 in their head-to-head and has won the last four meetings. At this point the Pole has to be sick of seeing him across the net.

The 27-year-old has always had the shotmaking. What is different this year is that he is closing out the tight ones instead of letting them slip away, and two straight deciding tiebreaks in Shanghai prove it.

Gea waits in the quarters

Next up is French breakout Arthur Gea, who upset Jakub Mensik 7-6(4), 6-4 in his Masters 1000 debut after taking out Ben Shelton the round before. The winner gets a place in the semifinals.

Gea has won 13 of his past 15 tour-level matches, so neither guy is short on confidence. One of them is going to be a surprise Shanghai semifinalist.

For Davidovich Fokina, the formula is working: fall behind, stay calm, win the breaker. Spanish tennis fans will take a little stress if it keeps ending like this.