Jodar, Auger-Aliassime fight back at Shanghai Masters to reach third round
Synopsis
On the same day at the Shanghai Masters, two very different stories unfolded with the same ending. Jodar — the Spaniard who started 2026 outside the Top 100 — made a composed debut in Shanghai, saving 9 of 10 break points. Auger-Aliassime had to rescue a 5-2 second-set lead, survive a tie-break, and claw through the third to win a nearly three-hour battle. Both are through, but Medvedev's 31 hard-court wins this year quietly make him the one to watch.
Key Takeaways
Rafael Jodar (12th seed) defeated Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 on his Shanghai Masters debut .
Jodar saved 9 of 10 break points and won 93% of first-serve points in the second set.
Felix Auger-Aliassime beat Camilo Ugo Carabelli 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5 in a 2 hours 58 minutes epic.
Jodar has risen from outside the Top 100 to No.
13 in the world in 2026, winning his first title in Marrakech in April.
Daniil Medvedev also advanced, defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 , and now has 31 hard-court wins in 2026.
Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai champion , faces either Etcheverry or Svrcina in the round of 32.
Rafael Jodar and Felix Auger-Aliassime delivered impressive come-from-behind victories in their second-round matches at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, 10 October 2026, advancing to the round of 32. Both players dropped the opening set before digging deep to secure hard-fought wins in what proved to be an eventful day of tennis in Shanghai.
Jodar Impresses on Shanghai Debut
12th seed Rafael Jodar defeated Argentina's Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to progress into the next round on his Shanghai Masters debut. The Spaniard showed exceptional resolve after ceding the first set, winning 93 per cent of his first-serve points in the second set alone.
Jodar was also remarkably efficient under pressure, saving nine of the 10 break points he faced during the contest while breaking his opponent's serve three times across the match. The performance underscored his rapidly growing stature on the ATP Tour.
The 2026 season has been a breakthrough year for Jodar, who began the calendar year ranked outside the Top 100 and has since climbed to No. 13 in the world. He claimed his maiden tour-level title in April 2026 in Marrakech and reached the quarterfinals of the French Open. However, the Spaniard had suffered early exits at the US Open 2026 and the Japan Open recently, making his Shanghai campaign a crucial opportunity to rebuild momentum. He is now targeting a push into the top 10.
Auger-Aliassime Survives a Gruelling Marathon
Felix Auger-Aliassime overcame a determined Camilo Ugo Carabelli in a gruelling 2 hours and 58 minutes, winning 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5. The Canadian squandered a 5-2 lead in the second set, allowing the match to go to a tie-break, before composing himself to dominate the breaker convincingly, eventually clinching it 7-1.
The decisive moment of the encounter came in the 11th game of the third set, when Auger-Aliassime broke his opponent's serve to close out the match. The victory was hard-earned but served as a testament to the Canadian's mental fortitude in a closely contested battle.
Medvedev Also Advances With Three-Set Win
Elsewhere in the draw, former champion Daniil Medvedev came through a testing three-set clash, defeating Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to book his place in the third round. The Russian now boasts 31 wins on hard courts in 2026, a season that has already delivered him titles in Dubai, Brisbane, and Hangzhou.
Medvedev, the 2019 Shanghai Masters champion, will face either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Dalibor Svrcina in the round of 32, as he seeks to reclaim the title he won seven years ago on the same surface.
What to Watch in the Next Round
With Jodar aiming to break into the top 10, his Shanghai campaign takes on added significance in the final stretch of the season. Auger-Aliassime will need to conserve energy after his near-three-hour battle, while Medvedev's hardcourt form makes him a strong contender to go deep in the draw. All eyes will be on how this trio navigate the intensifying competition as the tournament progresses.
Point of View
Saving nine of ten break points, suggests the ranking climb is built on substance. Auger-Aliassime's match, however, was a cautionary tale about squandering leads; a 5-2 second-set advantage frittered away could have cost him dearly in a deeper round. Medvedev's 31 hard-court wins are the quietly dominant statistic of the day — he arrives in Shanghai not as a nostalgia act but as a genuine title contender, and the draw has yet to throw its toughest names at him.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Rafael Jodar win his Shanghai Masters second-round match?
Rafael Jodar defeated Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 on his Shanghai Masters debut, recovering strongly after losing the first set. He won 93 per cent of his first-serve points in the second set and saved nine of the ten break points he faced throughout the match.
How long did Felix Auger-Aliassime's match at the Shanghai Masters last?
Felix Auger-Aliassime's second-round match against Camilo Ugo Carabelli lasted 2 hours and 58 minutes, ending 4-6, 7-6(1), 7-5. Auger-Aliassime squandered a 5-2 second-set lead before winning the tie-break and making a decisive break in the 11th game of the third set.
What has been Rafael Jodar's form in the 2026 tennis season?
Jodar has had a breakthrough 2026 season, rising from outside the Top 100 in January to world No. 13. He won his first tour-level title in Marrakech in April and reached the quarterfinals of the French Open, though he suffered early exits at the US Open 2026 and the Japan Open.
How is Daniil Medvedev performing at the Shanghai Masters 2026?
Daniil Medvedev advanced to the third round after defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. He now has 31 hard-court wins in 2026 and will face either Tomas Martin Etcheverry or Dalibor Svrcina next. Medvedev won the Shanghai Masters title in 2019.
What is the Shanghai Masters round of 32 format?
The round of 32 is the third round of the Shanghai Masters main draw, where the remaining players — including seeds and those who have won their first two matches — compete. Jodar, Auger-Aliassime, and Medvedev all advanced to this stage on 10 October 2026.
