NEW YORK – Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the best player on tour yet to win an ATP title, is convinced his wait will end.
“I know I’m doing things right. The title will come, I think people know that. Maybe it won’t be this year, but it will come one day,” the Spaniard told a small group of media, including CLAY, after a strong start in New York.
The world No.18 is focused on not letting his demons overwhelm him. “It’s all about learning to stay calm in tense moments. That comes with playing more tournaments and more matches. Understanding that when you lose a point, it’s fine – there’s always another chance.”
Davidovich knows well how close he has come to that elusive first professional trophy, but admits nerves have often stopped him from closing matches.
“I’ve had opportunities, I didn’t take them, but there will be others. That’s tennis. I know I’ll have chances in the rest of my career and in the end, with these three finals I’ve played this year, I’m learning and taking it with me, so I know how to handle the next ones if I get there,” he said.
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In 2025 he lost finals in Delray Beach, Acapulco, and most recently – in heartbreaking fashion – in Washington.
“If you look at the Delray Beach final, after 5-3, 15-40, I couldn’t play the game, I was really nervous, talking to myself a lot…”
“And then in the Acapulco final, I was 5-2 up, had set points and kept fighting, and in the end it was a tight 7-6.”
The images from the Washington ATP 500 final, at the start of the North American hard-court swing, had the biggest impact. Davidovich, devastated after losing to Alex de Minaur, had to be consoled by the Australian. The Spaniard received a wave of public support and encouragement.
“Right after I lost, I got a message from (Arthur) Fils, who I consider my best friend on tour and a great friend in life. Also from (Jiri) Lehecka, from (Flavio) Cobolli,” he said.
“I’ve got several friends on tour who saw me after that final, I was shattered, really down, and I really appreciated their messages”
“In the end, for me it’s also about saying: damn, I know I’m doing things right, the title will come…”
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In a recent interview with CLAY, also published in The Second Serve, the Spanish player of Russian descent opened up further on how he copes with defeat.
“Now I know how to handle losses well. In tennis, you win and lose every week, and you have to learn to live with that. If you’re well supported, your team understands. They know you’ll have another shot the following week. It’s about seeing it as a process, learning from mistakes and correcting them.”
