By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, April 16, 2022
Unseeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina topped Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 charging into his first ATP final at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Salvaging strays is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s passion.
Staring down the prospect of a double-break deficit in the final set, Davidovich Fokina realized personal rescue mission.
More: Federer Stars with Anne Hathaway
Staving off six break points in a fierce stand, Davidovich Fokina showed strong survival skills stopping Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 6-7(2), 6-3 charging into his first ATP final at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
The 46th-ranked Spaniard, who staggered into the Principality on a three-match losing streak slumping to a 4-9 record, continued his career-best run scoring his fifth win of the week.
The unseeded Davidovich Fokina, who shocked world No. 1 Novak Djokovic with a three-set upset in round two, will face either defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas or Olympic gold-medal champion Alexander Zverev in his maiden ATP final tomorrow.
A cat lover who launched Adoptas.org in 2021, a pet adoption platform that aims to connect anyone looking to adopt or foster a pet with shelters and rescues across Spain, Davidovich Fokina showed competitive life scoring his third three-set win of the week.
Today’s first semifinal took some wild detours and the level of play dipped and spiked at unpredictable times. Davidovich Fokina served for the final at 5-4 in the second set only to feel the jitters and see Dimitrov lift his level to run through the second-set tiebreaker and build a 2-0 lead in the decider.
That’s when Davidovich Fokina turned the tide with a titanic hold that saw him deny six break points grinding through a 13-minute recovery to get on the scoreboard.
“First [Masters] semifinals, I knew it will be tough and for sure if I had the opportunities I will be tight,” Davidovich Fokina told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “6-4, 5-4 serve I didn’t put one ball in I wanted to push myself and see what happens.
“I went to the bathroom and I was like I don’t want to lose today. In the beginning of the third set he had the chances to beat me 6-0. He had balls for 3-0 when I make that game for 2-1 it was like believing in myself more and I wanted to see how tired was Grigor. Because it was a tough match. I’m so happy I make it. I’m so happy for the team too.”
The unseeded Spaniard who broke Novak Djokovic’s serve a record nine times (for a three-set match) in his second round upset of the world No. 1 player masterful heartbreaker for hometown favorite Dimitrov.
Playing for his maiden Masters clay-court final, Dimitrov could not keep the ball inside the lines for the first set and a half then downshifted into his most dynamic tennis taking the second-set tiebreaker and nearly going up a double break in the decider. But when Dimitrov failed to break for 3-0, he looked a little emotionally deflated and could not find the answer for Davidovich Fokina hammering away at his backhand.
Though Davidovich Fokina is the most inexperienced of the four semifinalists, he was better on big points today. Davidovich Fokina saved seven of 10 break points, while saved just one of six break points.
The 30-year-old Dimitrov betrayed his cause with six double faults, including double-faulting away the opening break and a 2-1 lead.
The Bulgarian earned his second love-30 start into the Spaniard’s service game, but Davidovich Fokina was tough and clear on crucial points. The Spaniard slid his second ace and stung a running forehand to hold for 5-3.
Dimitrov stamped a love hold forcing Davidovich Fokina to serve it out.
The Masters semifinal debutant was up to the task. Deadlocked at 30-all, Davidovich Fokina got a gift when Dimitrov netted a slice backhand for set point. Hurling himself into a series of forehands, the 22-year-old Spaniard sealed the 42-minute opening set.
Winless in three prior ATP semifinals, Davidovich Fokina was one set from his first final. The Spaniard served 81 percent and used the body serve smartly in the first set.
Returning with greater purpose to start the second set, Dimitrov earned break point. Dragging Davidovich Fokina off the baseline with a drop shot, Dimitrov drew the error breaking for 2-0.
A two double-fault game put Dimitrov in a break-point bind. The Bulgarian broke himself scattering a forehand to give back the break in the third game.
Playing with plenty of spin and ample margin on his shots, Davidovich Fokina exploited a sloppy stretch from Dimitrov. Driving his shots deep near the baseline, Davidovich Fokina provoked a netted backhand scoring his second straight break to go up 3-2.
The world No. 46, who arrived in Monte-Carlo mired in a three-match losing streak, sped through a quick hold at 15 for his fourth consecutive game.
When Davidovich’s moment of truth arrived, he blinked.
Serving for a spot in his first final at 5-4, Davidovich Fokina paused to soak in the crowd roars and waved his arms encouraging fans to make more noise. The Spaniard hit into some static on his forehand missing three forehand drives to donate the break back.
The tiebreaker tipped toward Dimitrov as he coaxed three backhand errors to edge ahead 5-2. The 2018 semifinalist earned four set points when Davidovich Fokina pasted a backhand return into net. Sliding right to flick back a forehand, Dimitrov drew another errant backhand snatching the second set with a clenched fist and forcing a decider after one hour, 45 minutes.
Davidovich Fokina took a six-minute bathroom break/clothing change. The man wearing different colored socks—a black left sock and white right rock—and sporting the Marcelo Rios-inspired hairstyle attacked net only to see Dimitrov drill a running backhand bolt down the line for break point. A sliding Dimitrov pushed a drop shot reply off the tape to miss it.
A sliding backhand flick pass gave the Bulgarian a third break point. Disrupting Davidovich Fokina’s rhythm with a mix of heights and spins on his shots, Dimitrov drew a sailed forehand starting the decider with a break.
A resurgent Dimitrov dotted the line with his second ace slamming shut love hold for 2-0.
Down a break point, Davidovich Fokina employed the old Andre Agassi service stance way out wide then flicked the underhand serve exploiting his opponent’s deep return position. Davidovich Fokina saved another break point with a smash.
The Spaniard showed stubborn spine saving six break points scraping through a 13-minute hold to get on the board in the decider.
Tightening up, Dimitrov sprayed a couple of forehands and dumped a double fault to gift the break back as Davidovich Fokina leveled, 2-all.
When Davidovich Fokina gained another shot to serve for the final, he did not flinch. Floating a forehand drop shot winner to start the game, Davidovich Fokina fired his third ace off the sideline dropping to his knees in disbelief and arising a Masters 1000 finalist.
Spain has produced magnficent Masters performances this season with an injured Rafael Nadal battling into the Indian Wells final, 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz making history as the youngest man to win the Miami Open and now Davidovich Fokina will try to keep the roll going in his first final.