Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stood on the verge of R1 exit at the ATP 500 event in Acapulco. However, the Spaniard saved four match points against Mattia Bellucci and ousted two more opponents to book a place in his third ATP final!
Alejandro faced his in-form coeval Denis Shapovalov in the semi-final and prevailed 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and 15 minutes for his second ATP final of the season. Shapovalov chased his second consecutive ATP 500 title and had his chances.
The Canadian served for the opener at 5-3 and had a chanse to wrap up the second serve at 6-5. However, he experienced crucial breaks and fell in the pivotal moments to propel his coeval through.
Denis Shapovalov was serving for the first set and the second set… he ended up losing in straights and crumbled in both tiebreaks
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has a chance to redeem himself from the Delray Beach debacle pic.twitter.com/V4V7ZoKues
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Davidovich Fokina claimed nine points more than his rival. He served at 70% and outplayed his opponent behind the first and second serve. The Spaniard played against seven break points and experienced four breaks. Shapovalov struggled to find the first serve.
He played against ten break points and denied six, squandering his opportunities and ending his run in the last four. They 80 unforced errors, and Alejandro tamed his strokes more efficiently with 25 winners and 37 unforced errors.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot
Denis forged a slight gap in service winners and at the net. However, he lost the ground from the baseline, where the Spaniard led 65-50. The Canadian sprayed too many forehand mistakes and experienced six mini-breaks.
Shapovalov saved break points in the third game of the duel and welcomed the rival’s loose backhand in the next one for a break and a 3-1 advantage. Davidovich Fokina faced more issues at 1-4, saving break points and holding to remain in contention.
Denis Shapovalov & Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard pulled the break back in game seven with a forehand winner before experiencing another setback in the next one. Denis broke for 5-3 and served for the opener in game nine. He sent a backhand long to drop serve and keep his rival alive.
They served well in the remaining three games and introduced a tie break. The Canadian played a terrible forehand at 2-2 and fell behind. A left-hander reduced the gap to 4-3 before sending a routine forehand long. Alejandro landed a service winner at 6-3, wrapping up the opener in 65 minutes.
The Spaniard broke in the second game of the second set and forged a 3-0 advantage. He missed another break chance at 4-1 and struggled on serve in game seven. Davidovich Fokina played a loose forehand and suffered a break at 15.
Denis Shapovalov, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot
Denis returned to the positive side and made another push on the return at 5-5. He welcomed the rival’s backhand error and served for the set in game 12. Alejandro kept his composure and claimed an entertaining point with a smash winner for a break chance.
The Spaniard converted it after a volley mistake from the Canadian, introducing a tie break and gaining a boost. Davidovich Fokina painted a backhand crosscourt winner in the second point and forged a 3-0 lead after Shapovalov’s double fault.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot
Alejandro cracked a forehand down the line winner for 4-0 and landed a service winner in the next point to extend the gap. Flying over the court, the Spaniard cracked a forehand crosscourt winner for 6-0 and six match points.
He converted the second with a forehand winner, moving over the top and reaching the title clash.
Tennis World USA