Davidovich does not allow himself to be surprised in 1R | ATP Tour

Roland Garros

Davidovich does not allow himself to be surprised in 1R

He will be Ruud’s rival in the second round and Munar will face De Miñaur

May 28, 2024

The rain forced all the protagonists who had their matches scheduled this Tuesday outside the Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne-Lenglen stadiums to wait longer than necessary. That was the case of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who was able to wake up in time to avoid the surprise in Paris.

The Spaniard managed to recover against a great version of the Monegasque player from the previous Valentin Vacherot and advance his debut in the first round of Roland Garros by 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(2) in two hours and 41 minutes.

In this way, the No. 32 in the PIF ATP Rankings was able to cut a streak of two consecutive defeats in the bud, after losing in the third round in Madrid (l. to Rublev) and in his debut in Rome (l. to Medjedovic).

“I haven’t won for a long time and I come here to try to play my best tennis in every match,” said the Spaniard at the press conference after the match. “In the end, here in the Grand Slam I have more time to react in moments than maybe in three-set tournaments.”

“I’m happy with today’s level, despite the last game with my serve, I don’t give it importance,” he continued his analysis of the match. “Vacherot served very well, he had a good percentage of first and in the end he decided on three details that make the difference.”

But this Tuesday on Court 10 of Roland Garros he added his tenth victory of 2024 in the first duel that the Lexus ATP Head2Head recorded against Vacherot.

Davidovich will be the next opponent of the No. 7 seed Casper Ruud, who this Tuesday did not find too many difficulties to overcome the Brazilian from the qualifying phase Felipe Meligeni Alves 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 55 minutes.

Jaume Munar experienced a similar case on Runway 12 of the Bois de Boulogne venue. In this case, he beat his compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut in a battle that lasted three hours and 14 minutes, finishing 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The 27-year-old Spaniard also ended a streak of two consecutive defeats, after falling in the second round in Rome (l. to Norrie) and in his debut in Lyon (l. to Tiafoe).

“It’s a game that nobody likes,” acknowledged the Spaniard. “Everyone tries to give their best version in a tournament like this and we come with expectations of doing well, we prepare to play in places like Roland Garros and it is not pleasant to start with a person with whom you train, with whom you share a lot days of the circuit.”

“Today has been complicated, because of all the stops due to rain, the waiting, full of patience, even in the game there have been moments when it seemed like we were stopping, we haven’t stopped… and that has made it uncomfortable,” said Munar. “It was a tough game. “I am happy for the victory, with things to improve, but for my part I think that, at times, I have given a good level of tennis.”

Munar, who is one victory away from ten in the Grand Slam, will try to add one more against the No. 11 seed Alex de Miñaur, who this Tuesday had no problems beating #NextGenATP Alex Michelsen 6-1, 6-0, 6-2.

The Australian dominates the Lexus ATP Head2Head against the Spaniard 2-0.

“He was not very good at playing on clay, despite having grown up in Spain and, however, he has improved a lot in recent times, I think that this year he has already had a clay season at a level very in line with his ranking and that continues to be a challenge for me,” he said about his next rival.

“I feel very good in Paris, I have practically always played well here, I am going to propose a match that suits me, a tough match and I think it happens there,” he revealed before closing: “I trust my chances, I think this “This year I have taken steps forward, in terms of results I would have liked to be a little better, but at the tennis level I have taken steps and I am a little more dominant, especially on land.”

Did you know…?

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina will play his 40th Grand Slam match against Ruud. The Spaniard has a record of 23-16 in tournaments in this category before facing the Norwegian.