Boris Becker tells Alejandro Davidovich Fokina what his next goal should be after winning his first Masters title

October 19, 2026

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina made history in Shanghai by capturing his first ATP Masters 1000 title, defeating Rafael Jodar in a thrilling three-set final (1-6, 7-6, 6-4). The 27-year-old Spaniard, who had never before reached a Masters final, climbed 13 spots in the rankings to a career-best 13th, though he fell just short of a top-10 debut.

Despite the setback, tennis legend Boris Becker weighed in on X, urging Fokina to aim for the elite tier by 2027, calling it his next logical target. Meanwhile, Jodar’s bid to break Becker’s record for the fastest ascent from the top 100 to top 10 ended with his runner-up finish, leaving him 11th in the world—100 points shy of the 10th spot held by Arthur Fils.

Fokina’s victory also marked his third title of the season, following wins in Mallorca and Chengdu, and propelled him into the ATP Finals race with 2,450 points, though he’ll need a strong finish in Basel and Paris to secure a spot among the year’s final eight players. The win solidified Spain’s dominance in the top 15, with Carlos Alcaraz, Jodar, and Fokina now all ranked inside the elite group.