Davidovich pulls off biggest comeback of the year in Washington | ATP Tour

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Davidovich achieves his biggest comeback of the year in Washington

Your next rival will be Flavio Cobolli

July 31, 2024

It was just his debut and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina celebrated it like a weekend round triumph. And he was right to do so. Despite being a set and a break down, and trailing 1-3 in the decider, the Spaniard ended up winning 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 against American Mitchell Krueger at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

Since he lost his serve at 1-1 in the opening set, everything went against the grain for the No. 44 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Alarm bells went off when he found himself 0-2 down in the second set, but his reaction was immediate. He broke in the next game and slowly gained confidence.

Although he was unable to convert the two break points at 4-4 and the four at 5-5, he was impeccable in the tie-break. He made just one unforced error in this stretch in which he forced a third that was also full of adversities for the eighth seed.

Not only did he lose his serve in the opening game, but he also squandered the two break chances he created on return at 1-2. But once he broke at 2-3, the Spaniard was a hurricane. He won the rest of the points on his serve (8/8) and broke in the tenth game to record his 13th victory of the season.

Now leading their Lexus ATP Head-To-Head ranking with No. 192 Krueger 1-0, Davidovich will next face No. 48 Flavio Cobolli of Italy in the Round of 16. He is fresh off a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Belgian David Goffin. It will be the first meeting between the two in main draws on the ATP Tour.

The Spaniard who failed to advance on Wednesday was Roberto Carballés Baena. The 11th seed fell to local Aleksandar Kovacevic, who won 7-6(4), 7-6(3) to become the next opponent of his compatriot Frances Tiafoe, fifth seed.