Sports · Tennis · 3 hrs ago
Rafa Jódar rallies to reach Shanghai Masters last 16
Rafa Jódar, a 20-year-old Spanish tennis player, came back to beat Czech player Jiri Lehecka at the Shanghai Masters in China.
He lost the first set but won the next two, taking the match 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 after two hours and 42 minutes.
The win puts Jódar in the round of 16 and marks the fifth time he has reached that stage at a Masters 1000 tournament.
It is his first season as a professional, and he has won 53 matches this year across the main tour and Challenger events.
Fellow contender Taylor Fritz also lost, which helps Jódar in the race for one of the remaining places at the ATP Finals in Turin.
Jódar currently has 2,609 ranking points and would be the second alternate if the Finals were held now, with Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal confirmed.
His next Shanghai opponent will be the winner of the match between Arthur Fils and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Rafa Jódar rallied from a set down to beat Jiri Lehecka and reach the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters.
The 12th seed won 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in 2 hours and 42 minutes.
It was the fifth time Jódar had reached the last 16 at a Masters 1000 event.
He had also come from behind in his opening match against Thiago Tirante.
Jódar will next face the winner of the match between Arthur Fils and Botic van de Zandschulp.
- Who
- Rafa Jódar beat Jiri Lehecka.
- What
- Jódar rallied to win and advance to the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters.
- When
- Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Where
- The Shanghai Masters in Shanghai.
- Why
- The win advanced Jódar to the last 16 of the tournament.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
Jódar came from behind to defeat Thiago Tirante.
Jódar rallied to beat Jiri Lehecka and reach the last 16.
- Match score
- 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4
- Match duration
- 2 hours and 42 minutes
- Tournament seed
- 12th
- Age
- 20
- Season record cited
- 53 wins in 2026, including Challenger events
Sources
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