Alejandro Davidovich Fokina dropped to his knees in celebration after an epic victory on Friday at Roland Garros. The Spaniard, one day shy of his 22nd birthday, came through a 16-minute service hold in the final game of his 7-6(3), 2-6, 7-6(6), 0-6, 7-5 victory over Norwegian 15th seed Casper Ruud, one of the player’s touted to go deep at the Paris major.
Davidovich Fokina, who also reached the fourth round at the 2020 US Open, saved four break points in the final game, including one with an underarm serve, as Spanish supporters chanted “Foki, Foki” with every point their favourite won. He closed out one of the biggest wins of his career after four hours and 35 minutes on his fifth match point.
The World No. 46, who reached the Millennium Estoril Open semi-finals in May, will now prepare to challenge Argentine Federico Delbonis, who upset Italian 27th seed Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
There were no break points in the decider, which lasted 63 minutes, until the 10th game when Ruud came under increasing pressure. Davidovich Fokina broke on his fourth break point when Ruud hit a backhand long, then came through a lengthy service hold at 6-5 - featuring five match points in an eight-deuce game - for a memorable 18th match win of 2021.
When asked whether he would change anything, Ruud said, "At 5-5 in the fifth [set] and game point, I would probably go [for a] crosscourt forehand on the let instead of down the line, because he passed me on the big point. He hit his crosscourt forehand and it bounced up from the net, and I went down the line. If I would have gone cross, I would have had [a] 6-5 [lead]."
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Ruud, 22, had come to the French capital in form, having captured his second ATP Tour title two weeks ago at the Gonet Geneva Open (d. Shapovalov). He also reached two ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (l. to Rublev), the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Berrettini), plus the last four at the BMW Open in Munich (l. to Basilashvili).
"It's difficult because you never really know what's going to come out of his racquet," said Ruud, after losing to Davidovich Fokina. "He can produce extremely good shots and extreme winners, passing shots, beautiful drop shots. But sometimes he can also do more mistakes. The fourth set went fast. That was the set where I played very well and he kind of lowered down a little bit. But then in the fifth [set] it was game on again."
Davidovich Fokina, who also reached the fourth round at the 2020 US Open, saved four break points in the final game, including one with an underarm serve, as Spanish supporters chanted “Foki, Foki” with every point their favourite won. He closed out one of the biggest wins of his career after four hours and 35 minutes on his fifth match point.
The World No. 46, who reached the Millennium Estoril Open semi-finals in May, will now prepare to challenge Argentine Federico Delbonis, who upset Italian 27th seed Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.
There were no break points in the decider, which lasted 63 minutes, until the 10th game when Ruud came under increasing pressure. Davidovich Fokina broke on his fourth break point when Ruud hit a backhand long, then came through a lengthy service hold at 6-5 - featuring five match points in an eight-deuce game - for a memorable 18th match win of 2021.
When asked whether he would change anything, Ruud said, "At 5-5 in the fifth [set] and game point, I would probably go [for a] crosscourt forehand on the let instead of down the line, because he passed me on the big point. He hit his crosscourt forehand and it bounced up from the net, and I went down the line. If I would have gone cross, I would have had [a] 6-5 [lead]."
Follow Live Scores At RolandGarros.com
Ruud, 22, had come to the French capital in form, having captured his second ATP Tour title two weeks ago at the Gonet Geneva Open (d. Shapovalov). He also reached two ATP Masters 1000 semi-finals at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (l. to Rublev), the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Berrettini), plus the last four at the BMW Open in Munich (l. to Basilashvili).
"It's difficult because you never really know what's going to come out of his racquet," said Ruud, after losing to Davidovich Fokina. "He can produce extremely good shots and extreme winners, passing shots, beautiful drop shots. But sometimes he can also do more mistakes. The fourth set went fast. That was the set where I played very well and he kind of lowered down a little bit. But then in the fifth [set] it was game on again."