Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Must Find His Killer Instinct

Spanish #2 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is a player well-known for his fighting spirit. Indeed, his grit and determination is arguably his finest attribute – though he is not just a ‘grinder’ by any stretch of the imagination. However, in spite of that fierce determination, the Spaniard has not yet managed to win a singles title on the ATP tour. For a player of his abilities (he has a career-high ranking of world #19), that is a poor return.

Davidovich Fokina has made it to four finals on the tour and a number of semifinals, including the final at the Monte Carlo Masters, which shows he has the quality in him to take on the best in the world. However, he appers to lack the killer instinct when it counts most – despite his determination.

Indeed, his run to the final in Monte Carlo is instructive. He defeated then world #1 Novak Djokovic in the second round to secure the most famous win of his career and eventually progressed to the final in a run that also included wins over Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov. However, in the final he fell to Stefanos Tsitsipas in a tame straight-sets defeat that belied his excellent form all week in the Principality. It took him another three years to earn a further shot at tour-level glory, but this season he has reached three finals and twice come to within a point of claiming that elusive crown.

His first final of the 2025 season was at the Delray Beach Open where he lost to Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets, despite holding match points. A couple of weeks later, he again made it to the final in Acapulco only for the comparatively unheralded Tomas Machac to beat him comfortably in straight sets. His third and most recent final came at the recently concluded Washington Open where the Australian Alex De Minaur saved three championship points to deny Davidovich Fokina a title yet again. The agony of the defeat was written clear across Davidovich Fokina’s face as he broke down into tears.

After four finals and four losses, two in heartbreaking circumstances, the concern is that these defeats will continue to weigh on Davidovich Fokina and might well become a mental block. Another opportunity lies ahead of him at Toronto Masters starting this week and with many big names having already pulled out, there is a real chance for the Spaniard to make amends in the perfect fashion in Canada.

But to do so, he will need to find a killr instinct when the pressure is at it’s most intense. There is no doubt that Davidovich Fokina is a very fine player, but until he can find a way across the line in an ATP final, he will remain a nearly man.