The 19-year-old Spaniard Rafa Jodar produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the Cincinnati Masters 1000, recovering from 1-5 down in the deciding set to defeat Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 and reach the third round.
Jodar appeared to be on the verge of elimination when Shapovalov moved within two games of victory in the final set. Instead, the Spanish player rallied to win six consecutive games, saving two crucial match points during his revival before completing a remarkable turnaround.
The contest also featured a series of controversial interruptions. Jodar twice stopped play because of a problem with his shoe, with the most significant incident coming when he was trailing 3-5 in the deciding set.
On that occasion, the stoppage lasted for more than a minute as Jodar asked his father to help repair the shoe. The delay angered Shapovalov, who later questioned the way the interruptions were handled.
Jodar was also troubled by pain in his left leg and received medical treatment during the match. Despite those difficulties, he maintained his composure and gradually regained control of the contest.
He made the decisive difference in the final set by breaking Shapovalov’s serve three times. Having looked close to defeat, Jodar used that advantage to level the score and then complete the turnaround in front of a stunned opponent.
After the match, Jodar apologised to Shapovalov for the stoppage involving his shoe. The Canadian, however, criticised what he regarded as the use of the interruptions to take water breaks during the equipment issue.
Jodar said he was extremely happy to claim his first victory in Cincinnati. He described the match as difficult and said he had been forced to keep fighting until the final point.
The Spaniard added that he was particularly pleased with the way he controlled his emotions during the most challenging stages of the match. He believes the victory will give him an important boost in confidence as he continues his campaign.
Jodar’s next opponent will be Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo in the third round.