With 20-year-old Jodar downing Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-4 later on Saturday, it meant men's tennis will be celebrating a new Masters 1000 champion from Spain with 27-year-old Davidovich Fokina also in sight of his maiden crown.
The 25th seed Davidovich Fokina battled back against the soon-to-be-crowned world No.1 to prevail 5-7 6-4 6-3, firing 36 winners in the two-hour two-minute contest to secure only his second victory over Zverev in eight meetings.
Davidovich Fokina was in danger of a straight-sets defeat when he came up with his first break of the match to take the second set, forcing a decider with a stunning backhand passing shot on the run that capped a bruising baseline exchange and brought the crowd to their feet.
Carrying that momentum into the final set, Davidovich Fokina broke Zverev for a 2-0 lead and never relinquished control, booking a place in the second ATP Masters 1000 final of his career after finishing runner-up in Monte Carlo in 2022.
Landing 82% of his first serves and repeatedly exposing Zverev on the forehand side, he secured one of the biggest victories of his career.
"I knew that if I stayed there all match, I could get at least one chance and I took it there in the second set," Davidovich Fokina said.
"Then in the third set, I think I was better physically. The early break in the third set gave me a lot of power.
"I focused on just playing, not mattering about the result but enjoying."
But it was a disappointing end to the week for Zverev, who admitted to feeling weariness after an exhilarating season.
He's ended his grand slam drought at the French Open before claiming a second major title at the US Open and then guaranteed himself the year-end No.1 ranking after Jannik Sinner was sidelined for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
"Today I was flat. Even in the first set, even though I won the set," Zverev said. "I was not reacting so well. I was returning quite badly.
"I feel like I've actually, in a way, maybe over-achieved this week because of how much tennis I played. I carried fatigue into the tournament, and I'm okay to lose to a player like this today."
Jodar's success story keeps rolling as he toppled 2019 champion Medvedev to reach his first Masters final.
The Russian saved three match points serving at 5-3 down and then held his own delivery, but Jodar wouldn't be denied, sealing the victory on his own serve, clipping a forehand winner down the line after Medvedev's tame smash at the net sat up nicely for him.
The soaring No.12 seed Jodar is looking for his second career title after winning on clay at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco in April.
