ATP Tour

Jodar matches Djokovic feat by reaching Shanghai R4

Rafael Jodar recorded the 40th win of his remarkable debut ATP Tour season on Monday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he also strengthened his bid to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals.

The 20-year-old Spaniard showed impressive composure to rally past in-form Jiri Lehecka 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 and reach the fourth round at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the fifth time this season. Having achieved that feat at five consecutive events he has played, Jodar is the youngest man to do so since Novak Djokovic in 2007.

Lehecka arrived in Shanghai fresh from reaching the final in Tokyo, where he fell to Carlos Alcaraz, and was also chasing his fifth fourth-round appearance at a Masters 1000 event this season. Yet, after a strong start from the Czech, Jodar gradually worked his way back into the contest before delivering under pressure in the closing stages to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“Hanging in there,” Jodar said when asked about what he was most proud of. “It was very difficult today with the conditions. Jiri played very good from start to finish, serving very well. I had to give my best to win this match today.”

Despite playing his first full season on the ATP Tour after turning professional in December 2025, Jodar has emerged as a serious contender to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. The Spaniard, who holds a 40-16 record this season, is currently 11th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.

Jodar is the eighth player to record more than 40 tour-level victories in 2026, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, and will next face eighth seed Arthur Fils or Botic van de Zandschulp in Shanghai.

2026 ATP Tour Win Leaders

_{*also playing in Shanghai on Monday}