Jódar saves two match points to beat Shapovalov in Cincinnati after shoelace dispute

Jódar's comeback from 1-5 in the third set

Rafa Jódar, the 19-year-old from Madrid ranked world number 11, saved two match points and won six consecutive games to defeat Canada's Denis Shapovalov 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the second round of the Cincinnati Masters 1000. The match lasted two hours and 56 minutes on the Grandstand court. Jódar, making his Cincinnati debut, trailed 1-5 in the deciding set before turning the match around to reach the third round.

In the first set, Jódar responded to a Shapovalov break for 4-3 with a counterbreak and another break in the final game to take it 7-5. Shapovalov levelled the contest with a lone break in the opening game of the second set, winning it 6-4. The Canadian then surged to a 5-1 lead in the third set with two breaks and served twice for the match, holding two match points. Jódar recovered both breaks, won the next six games, and closed the set 7-5.

The shoelace controversy

Jódar interrupted play twice due to problems with his shoelaces, with the second stoppage coming at 3-5 in the third set and lasting more than a minute. His father came to courtside to help him fit new laces. Shapovalov, visibly irritated, complained to the chair umpire that Jódar was cooling the match at a critical moment. The Canadian confronted Jódar again during the net handshake, though the exchange ended with a friendly hand clash.

Video footage later showed Jódar's shoes were genuinely damaged, undermining Shapovalov's complaints. Jódar apologised to Shapovalov after the match and said the interruptions were not a tactical ploy. The Canadian also accused Jódar of using the pauses to drink water.

It's a situation I can't control, honestly. My laces broke and I needed time to prepare new ones. I'll try to have laces ready for the next match or other shoes, and that way I reduce the stoppage time in case the same thing happens to me.

A recurring issue

The shoelace problem has surfaced in each of Jódar's last three tournaments. In the Washington final against Taylor Fritz, he changed shoes mid-match. In the Montreal semifinal against Nakashima, the stoppage came in the sixth game of the second set. Adidas, the shoe brand, has not commented.

Jódar's breakthrough season

Jódar's season record stands at 35-13, making him the third-most prolific match winner on the ATP tour this year, behind only Alexander Zverev (45) and Jannik Sinner (44). He has reached at least the quarterfinals in seven of his last eight tournaments, was a finalist in Washington, and reached the semifinals of his first Masters 1000 in Montreal. His record in matches decided in a third set is 14-3. The youngest player in the draw, Jódar has gone in a matter of months from having no ranking to approaching the top 10.

I had to give everything today to win this match. I'm very happy with how I controlled my emotions today, especially in the third set. I'm very happy to get my first win in Cincinnati.

Other results from Cincinnati

Novak Djokovic, a three-time Cincinnati champion with a 10-match winning streak at the tournament, lost to Argentina's Thiago Agustín Tirante (world number 50) while suffering a physical indisposition. Tirante will face Spain's Martín Landaluce in the third round. Alexander Zverev defeated Britain's Cameron Norrie 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match that finished at 02:15 local time, affected by rain delays and prolonged earlier matches. Zverev's next opponent is France's Terence Atmane.

Next opponent

Jódar will face Chile's Alejandro Tabilo (world number 29) in the third round. Tabilo beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-4. The two have met twice this year, with Tabilo winning at Indian Wells and Jódar winning in the Washington semifinals.