Rafael Jodar stumbled as he attempted to leap over the final Masters 1000 hurdle on Sunday.
The young Spaniard, who only turned professional at the start of 2026, produced some spectacular tennis to reach the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday, beating the likes of Casper Ruud and Daniil Medvedev en route.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Jodar’s compatriot, triumphed in the final, 1-6, 7-6, 6-4.
With defeat, Jodar missed out on making his top-10 debut on the ATP Tour; at the start of this year, the teenager was ranked outside of the top 150.
In failing to enter the top 10 this week, Jodar has missed out on a piece of tennis history.
Rafael Jodar can no longer break Boris Becker’s tennis record
In 1985, Boris Becker set the record for the shortest time between breaking into the top 100 and breaking into the top 10 on the men’s professional singles circuit.
Becker accomplished the feat in just 210 days, winning his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon during that period.
If Jodar had defeated Davidovich Fokina in the Shanghai Masters final, he would have eclipsed Becker’s record, entering the ATP top 10 just 203 days after he entered the top 100.
Unfortunately for the youngster, his defeat to Fokina means that it is mathematically impossible for him to break Becker’s record.
| Player | Ranking | ATP points |
| Alex de Minaur | 8 | 3430 |
| Frances Tiafoe | 9 | 3380 |
| Arthur Fils | 10 | 3325 |
| Rafael Jodar | 11 | 3234 |
| Novak Djokovic | 12 | 3090 |
If Jodar feels any disappointment regarding this matter, he will need to put this feeling behind him quickly. After all, he still has the opportunity to qualify for the ATP Finals.
The Spaniard is currently ninth in the race, 169 points behind Arthur Fils in the eighth and final qualification spot.
Rafael Jodar reacts to his Shanghai Masters final defeat
It was not meant to be yesterday. But I will keep trying next time,” Jodar said in an Instagram post on Monday.
“Congratulations Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on the title and the battle. Thanks everyone for the support. See you next year.”
Name your favourite player ranked outside the top 10!
And tell us why…
Jodar has chosen to forgo the ATP Tour events taking place this week in Kazakhstan, Belgium and Lyon.
The youngster is instead expected to make his return to competitive play at the Swiss Indoors event, which is set to take place from October 26 to November 1.
