Alejandro Davidovich includes Verdasco in his team | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Davidovich includes Verdasco in his team

The former world No. 7 is his new coach

May 29, 2024

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina debuted with victory in the first round of Roland Garros this Tuesday against Valentin Vacherot, where he went from less to more 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(2). But the most striking thing was the familiar face who occupied his bench during the game: Fernando Verdasco.

And the former No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings is the new coach of the 24-year-old Andalusian. “With Jorge [Aguirre] I have left it and started this new stage with Verdasco,” Davidovich briefly explained, after reaching the second round in Paris.

“We have had a very good relationship for many years, although he has not officially retired, I know that he was already coaching other players, I thought it was also time to close a stage and start a new one,” added the Spaniard.

“In the end, a player with Verdasco’s experience can help me a lot to better face the games, that tension, that pressure and everything that comes,” he concluded about joining his team.

Davidovich, who has a 10-11 record so far this season, snapped a two-fight losing streak in Paris in the third round in Madrid (l. to Rublev) and in his debut in Rome (l. to Medjedovic).

His feelings in the French capital have been changing. Above all, on the training courts. “I am training very well, I am feeling very good physically and mentally, but competing is another world, there is more pressure, more tension, I try to deal with it in the best way,” she said.

Without going any further, Stefanos Tsitsipas pointed to Davidovich as one of the possible candidates for the title at Roland Garros. “I’m not going to stick with what Tsitsipas said, in the end we had a good training session and he had that feeling,” the Spaniard responded to the Greek’s prediction.

“From training to competition there is a world,” he insisted. “I had a fairly long streak without winning a game and this victory gives me confidence, in the end going for so long without a victory is hard, because I am a very competitive guy, who loves to win and not see the result, it is hard for me ”.

In the second round, Davidovich will test his form at Roland Garros against No. 7 seed Casper Ruud. “I try to be present in every game, try to do my best, the truth is that I am very happy with today’s victory,” he said before facing a great challenge against the two-time finalist in Paris.