DC Open Final: De Minaur’s Thrilling Victory
In a thrilling showdown at the DC Open final on Sunday, Alex De Minaur triumphed over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after recovering from being a set down and saving three championship points. The final score was 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (3), marking De Minaur’s tenth title on the ATP tour and his eighth victory on hard courts, solidifying him as a formidable player in the sport.
Match Highlights
The Australian, who entered the tournament as the seventh seed and is now set to ascend into the ATP top 10 rankings just in time for the US Open next month, showed remarkable resilience during the match. Meanwhile, Davidovich Fokina, seeded twelfth, faced his fourth consecutive defeat in finals, despite having a 5-2 lead in the decisive third set, coming agonizingly close to winning. This match was particularly heartbreaking for the Spaniard as it was his second occasion this year of failing to convert match points in a final.
Future Prospects
Entering the match ranked No. 26, Davidovich Fokina will see a silver lining with his anticipated debut in the top 20 on Monday, but he remains the highest-ranked male player yet to claim an ATP title. In a gesture of sportsmanship following the match, De Minaur consoled his opponent, making a heartfelt compliment during the trophy presentation.
“Alejandro, you’re way too good not to have one of these, it’s coming for sure,”
he stated, acknowledging Davidovich Fokina’s talent and competitiveness. In a reflective moment, Davidovich Fokina expressed his admiration for De Minaur, emphasizing the Australian’s relentless fighting spirit throughout the match.
He also reminded himself of his humble beginnings at the tournament last year, where he had to rely on a wild card to participate, and noted that despite not winning the trophy, reaching a career-high No. 19 ranking was a significant achievement.
“We had a job to do before we started the year, to be at the middle of the year in the top 20,”
he said. “This week we did it; just not with the trophy. But for sure, we will keep going, pushing our limits, pushing harder.”
