Jodar’s shoe-stop drama ends in Cincinnati breakthrough against Shapovalov

Rafa Jodar produced a remarkable late recovery to defeat Denis Shapovalov and reach the third round of the Cincinnati Masters, winning 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 after appearing destined for elimination in the deciding set.

The 19-year-old Spaniard was 5-1 down in the final set and facing a major test of his composure. However, he saved two crucial points before launching an extraordinary turnaround, winning six games in succession to take the set and complete one of the most dramatic victories of his young career.

Jodar’s comeback came during a match that was also marked by repeated interruptions and visible tension between the two players. The Spaniard had to stop play twice because of a problem with his shoe, with the most notable incident coming when he was trailing 5-3 in the deciding set.

He paused for more than a minute and asked his father to help repair the shoe. The delay angered Shapovalov, who appeared frustrated by the interruption while the match was reaching its decisive stage.

Jodar was also dealing with pain in his left leg and received medical treatment during the contest. Despite those physical difficulties, he remained competitive and gradually regained his balance in the final set.

His recovery was helped by three breaks of the Canadian’s serve in the decider. After being on the brink of defeat at 1-5, Jodar continued to fight and eventually secured the set 7-5, sealing a memorable victory over Shapovalov.

The events surrounding the stoppage remained a talking point after the match. Jodar apologised to Shapovalov for the incident, while the Canadian criticised what he viewed as the use of the breaks to drink water under the explanation of a shoe problem.

For Jodar, the result represented his first victory in Cincinnati. He said afterwards that he was extremely happy with the win, while acknowledging the difficulty of the contest and the need to continue fighting until the final point.

The Spaniard also said he was particularly pleased with the way he controlled his emotions during the most challenging moments of the match. He believes the victory will provide an important boost to his confidence as he continues his campaign at the tournament.

Jodar’s next opponent will be Chilean player Alejandro Tabilo in the third round. The match will give the teenager another opportunity to build on the confidence gained from a victory in which he recovered from a seemingly decisive deficit, overcame physical discomfort and held his nerve amid controversy.