Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Nomad life | ATP Tour

The life nomad with … Davidovich Fokina

The Spanish measures Shapovalov in the semifinals of Acapulco

February 28, 2025

Few in the world can realize the luxury of saying that they have been on all continents. Thanks to tennis, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is one of them. And with 25 years, it seems that he still has many places to meet while pursuing the dream of becoming one of the best in the ATP Tour.

Without going any further, this week he is playing for the first time at the Mexican Open Telcel presented by HSBC. Its premiere has been dreamed: it is already in the semifinals after leaving the Italian Mattia Bellucci, the American Frances Tiafoe and the Mexican Rodrigo Pacheco.

Before looking for his first game for the championship in an ATP 500, No. 48 of the PIF ATP Rankings spoke about his nomadic lifestyle and about the best anecdotes traveling, such as when he forgot to pack all his shoes to compete in a Grand Slam or as when he was trapped eight hours in a plane.

What articles not related to tennis usually carry with you?
The iPad is essential to entertain me. Sometimes, I also carry the console. I really like to play FIFA online.

Is it a lot to package?
It doesn’t take anything. In half an hour I have everything done because in the end I always choose the same.

Have you ever forgotten an important object?
Yes of course. Once for Australia I have forgotten the game shoes, and for the US Open I forgot all the shirts. A friend had to come the next day to those sites. They were different friends on each occasion. I had to call them and say: ‘Hey, come and bring me everything I have left at home’. They are friends who are as a family so, at the same time, I was delighted that they have come.

What is your favorite city of ATP Tour?
I would say Montecarlo. It’s very nice. Because of the facilities they give us, for the club, the hotel and the location, it is a fairly comfortable place for the players. I love playing there.

What is your favorite holiday destination?
Maldives. I love it. In the end, you completely disconnect. Yes, it is true that the first time I was [en 2023]on the fifth day I wanted to leave, but those first four days doing anything, being with the couple and forgetting the external world because there is nothing more, relaxes the mind a lot.

How do you face the ‘Jet Lag’?
In the end the body is accustomed to these trips. Mentally you know what this will happen, so you are quieter. Maybe when you are starting in the tour is more difficult, you are more tense, you want to sleep, and you forces do it. Then, no. You listen to the body and sleep whenever he wants. And when I arrive at the tournament I do a lot of mobility because it is true that on these long trips my back is stiffer. But not much more.

What has been your craziest travel story?
In 2023, from Indian Wells to Miami, we were diverted to Austin because there was a tornado, and we were trapped for about eight hours on the plane. They neither let us out nor gave us permission to take off. But they are things that happen …

When are you on tour do you do something to create a feeling of home?
I try to have the biggest room, or rent an apartment or a house. Above all, on long tours it is better to have something like that. A sofa, a television, a living room and not just a room.

Are you to arrive with time or on the time to the airport?
In Europe I am very calm and fair. I don’t go three hours before. But to the long flights that have to pass security control, I do go with a long time.