Davidovich Fokina Enters Maiden ATP Tour Final In Monte Carlo Masters
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina unlocks a new achievement in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters by overcoming Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 to reach his first ATP Tour final.
Davidovich FokinaThe Spaniard had a 4-9 record on the season and secured just one Top 100 win this year before walking into Monte Carlo. The world number 46 fought all odds and earned exceptional victories over world number one Novak Djokovic, Indian Wells winner Taylor Fritz, Marcos Giron, David Goffin, and lastly, Dimitrov.
Fokina's Unmatched Prowess in His Maiden ATP Masters 1000 Semi-final
Davidovich Fokina redeemed himself after wasting a 5-3 lead in the second set and clinched the decider on Court Rainier III. The 22-year-old nailed his groundstrokes and rallied from a breakdown in the third set to close the match in two hours and 42 minutes. “I am so, so happy to be in the final. It is a dream come true,” Davidovich Fokina said. “When I was a kid I was dreaming about this day. It is a dream and I am so happy. In the second set, I had my chances, but I didn’t play very well. I was so tight and he just put the ball in. The tie-break was also tight. But I went to the bathroom and said that I want this win.”
Davidovich Fokina lifted himself from being one of the last eight in Monte Carlo in 2021 to becoming an established tennis player climbing 19 places to No. 27 in the ATP Rankings. The 22-year-old broke Dimitrov five times and now leads their head-to-head record 2-0. If he enters the final, Fokina is expected to crack the top 20 for the first time upon winning the title. “He started the second set well and had the chances to break me again for 3-0. But that hold gave me the power to keep pushing,” Davidovich Fokina remarked. “Now I am in the final I will enjoy it and try my best.” He will meet either second-seeded Alexander Zverev or third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final scheduled to take place on April 17, 2022.