Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 28: In a dramatic finish that had fans on the edge of their seats, Alex de Minaur pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) and claim his 10th ATP tour-level title. The Aussie saved three championship points in the final set to seal victory, showing nerves of steel and sheer grit under pressure.
The final took an intense turn when Fokina, leading 5-4 in the decider, stood just 16 millimetres away from victory. On his third match point, a desperate lob from De Minaur clipped the sideline — and shifted the momentum completely. From there, the 25-year-old rallied, forced a tiebreak, and held firm to clinch the trophy.
“There’s something about this court,” said a jubilant De Minaur, recalling his 2018 comeback win over Andrey Rublev at the same venue. “I just told myself to commit, win or lose, it had to be on my terms. Thankfully, it went my way today.”
Rankings Shake-Up
The win also had major implications for the ATP Live Rankings. De Minaur leaped five places to World No. 8, matching his career-best. He also moved up two spots to eighth in the ATP Live Race to Turin, improving his chances of qualifying for the year-end ATP Finals.
Meanwhile, Davidovich Fokina — still chasing his maiden ATP title — saw some consolation in the rankings: he jumped seven places to World No. 19 and also rose to No. 11 in the Turin race.
Heartbreak for Fokina
For Fokina, the loss marked yet another painful chapter in a string of near-misses. The Spaniard had two match points at Delray Beach in February and fell short again in the Acapulco final in March. Sunday’s loss adds to the heartbreak, despite his strong performance throughout the week.
De Minaur’s Mindset the Key
De Minaur credited his recent form to a strong mental approach and personal growth on and off the court.
“Even if today didn’t go my way, I was proud of my week. But man, it feels good to hold that 10th title,” he said with a grin.
As the hard-court season builds toward the US Open, both players have made strong cases as dark horses — but for now, it's De Minaur who walks away with the trophy, the glory, and a place among the ATP’s elite top 10.