No longer is Alejandro Davidovich Fokina the best current player to have never won an ATP title.
Davidovich Fokina lifted his first trophy on the main tour after he defeated Ethan Quinn 7-6(4), 6-3 in the final of the Mallorca Championships on Saturday afternoon. The 27-year-old Spaniard triumphed in one hour and 43 minutes.
Previously 0-5 lifetime in ATP finals, Davidovich Fokina painfully had a total of five championship points last season — two in Delray Beach (lost to Miomir Kecmanovic) and three in Washington, D.C. (lost to Alex de Minaur).
“It feels amazing to have the first title after five finals,” the world No. 25 assured. “Today was a very tough battle; he played amazing. In the tiebreak, I was pushing myself. In the end I knew that this one has to be mine, in Spain, at home — the first one. It should be mine, and I pushed a lot.
“The crowd was amazing. I felt the love today. One hundred percent the title is for them, for the Spanish people that supported me and all the journey last year and this year. It was a tough, very tough year, but (a) very, very good year. So, I’m very happy how I performed today, and I don’t have any words to describe this feeling right now.”
Quinn was also bidding for his first ATP title and playing in his first final.
The 22-year-old American will climb to a career-high ranking of No. 47 in the world on Monday. Davidovich Fokina will move up to the 23rd spot. Both players now take their talents to Wimbledon, where they are in the top half of the draw and will therefore be be right back in action on Monday. Davidovich Fokina kicks off his campaign against Juan Manuel Cerundolo; Quinn faces Luciano Darderi.
nice one, ADF