Tennis essentials, 18 October: Davidovich Fokina wins Shanghai, Chwalinska takes Wuhan, Rune out of Brussels

A day of firsts: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina lifted the first Masters 1000 of his career in Shanghai, and Maja Chwalinska the first WTA trophy of hers, in Wuhan. Alexander Zverev lost his semi-final without losing anything of his year-end crown. Here are the six stories of this Sunday.

Shanghai: Davidovich Fokina comes back on Jodar for a first Masters 1000

A set and a break down, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina turned the final around: 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 against Rafael Jodar, 20, also playing his first Masters 1000 final. It is the first title at this level for the 27-year-old Spaniard, a little over four years after his Monte-Carlo final, and a third straight trophy after Mallorca and Chengdu. “I knew he was going to be nervous, that he might make a few mistakes he had not made before”, he said. L’Équipe on the final.

Zverev beaten, number one anyway

Alexander Zverev will end the year on top of the rankings, with Jannik Sinner absent; a title in Shanghai would have sent him to number one on 2 November. He folded in the semi-final instead (5-7, 6-4, 6-3 in 2h04): “I’m not a robot, I get tired. Since the US Open, I have had just one day of rest.” “When you add all that up, that little cocktail, it makes him the world number one”, summed up John Isner. Our semi-final report.

Wuhan: Chwalinska turns the final around on Kartal

In Wuhan, Sonay Kartal, ranked 170th and back on a protected ranking after six months out, took the first set 6-2 and led by a break in the second. Maja Chwalinska flipped the match: 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, and a first WTA title for the 25-year-old Pole, a Roland Garros finalist this season. Kartal, 24, the lowest-ranked finalist in the history of a WTA 1000, climbs to 50th on Monday and becomes British number one for the first time. The BBC report.

Rune’s back locks up again

Holger Rune has withdrawn from the ATP 250 in Brussels, which starts on Monday and where he had taken a wildcard last week. His back seized up; scans showed nothing serious, and two or three days of rest should do. “It is really annoying, and the timing is really bad”, the Dane wrote. He still aims at the ATP 500 in Basel next week. L’Équipe on the withdrawal.

Shelton completes the Turin trio

The race to the ATP Finals, from 15 to 22 November in Turin, has its third qualifier: Ben Shelton, after Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. Arthur Fils, seventh in the Race before Shanghai (3,285 points), remains well placed for one of the five spots left. L’Équipe on the Race.

Burel goes back-to-back in Lisbon

Clara Burel beat Spain’s Leyre Romero Gormaz in the final of the WTA 125 in Lisbon: 6-4, 6-3 in 1h26 on clay. A second consecutive title at this level after Valencia in September, and her first since her knee injury. Unranked in May, the Frenchwoman now sits inside the top 200. L’Équipe on the title.