Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Jenson Brooksby 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of the Shanghai Masters. The 25th-seeded Spaniard controlled proceedings on the outdoor hard court from start to finish, booking his place in the third round while successfully defending the ranking points he earned in Shanghai last year.
Davidovich Fokina sets the tone from the start
Davidovich Fokina found his rhythm immediately, dictating rallies from the baseline and giving Brooksby little room to establish his return game. Precise serving and accurate hitting into open spaces kept the American pinned back throughout, and the first set was over in a flash at 6-1.
The numbers reflected his dominance. Davidovich Fokina held serve on 88 percent of his service games and won 66 percent of points on his own delivery, with 78 percent of first serves finding the court. Brooksby, by contrast, struggled to find consistent depth and was forced to play defensively for long stretches.
Brooksby offers more resistance in the second
The second set was more competitive in its early stages. Brooksby kept things tighter through to the seventh game, concentrating better on his service games and looking to engage in rallies earlier. Davidovich Fokina, however, remained composed, waiting patiently for shorter balls before stepping on the accelerator.
The decisive break arrived in the seventh game, shifting the balance of power firmly back in the Spaniard's favour. He then served out confidently to take the set 6-3 and close out the match. Brooksby had no answer to the combination of a penetrating return game and relentless baseline pressure.
Dominant statistics across the board
The match stats painted an equally clear picture. Davidovich Fokina struck five aces and 20 winners without hitting a single double fault. Brooksby managed one ace and seven winners but racked up 25 unforced errors.
On return, Davidovich Fokina was particularly impressive, winning 52 percent of return points and converting 63 percent of his break points. Brooksby, in contrast, broke serve in just 13 percent of return games. Overall, the Spaniard claimed 59 percent of total points, a margin that left no doubt about the outcome.
Into the third round
The victory carried extra significance for Davidovich Fokina, who had suffered a first-round exit against Matteo Berrettini in Tokyo heading into this event. In Shanghai he entered the draw with a bye, meaning this was his first match of the tournament. Brooksby, meanwhile, had already played a first-round match, defeating Jaume Munar 7-5, 6-4.
The head-to-head had been level at one win apiece coming in. Brooksby claimed the first meeting in Antwerp, before Davidovich Fokina levelled things in Basel. In Shanghai, the Spaniard settled the rivalry's latest chapter decisively, advancing to the third round without dropping a set.
