Alex De Minaur Saves Three Match Points Before Roaring Back To Win Washington Title

Alex de Minaur has claimed his first title of nan year, winning nan Washington Open last astatine nan 2nd clip of asking. The Australian men’s No 1 fought gallantly to declare an enthralling title successful nan US superior complete chap 26-year-old Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), successful conscionable complete 3 hours.

A workman-like tiebreaker capped disconnected a week afloat of positives, and 10th profession title success, for De Minaur up of adjacent month’s US Open successful New York, while Davidovich Fokina fell conscionable short of claiming his first ATP Tour title.

Seventh seed De Minaur, who mislaid successful consecutive sets to Germany’s Alexander Zverev successful nan 2018 Washington final, improved to a tour-leading 21 hard-court wins for nan play by beating Frenchman Corentin Moutet successful nan semis.

On Monday (AEST), Davidovich Fokina, nan Spanish 12th seed, was surgery early successful nan opening group but responded instantly for 2-2. He gained nan advantage again successful nan 11th crippled earlier serving it retired successful 66 minutes.

It lit a occurrence nether nan Australian player, who went up 3-0 successful nan 2nd and collapsed again to return it to a 3rd set. But he dropped service for 3-1 successful nan decider, earlier redeeming 3 lucifer points and breaking backmost erstwhile Davidovich Fokina was serving for nan title astatine 5-4.

De Minaur went connected to declare a breaker littered pinch unforced errors by his opponent.

De Minaur will return to nan apical 10 successful nan rankings aft reaching nan decider. His 42 wins astatine ATP 500 level since nan commencement of nan 2023 play is nan astir by immoderate subordinate connected tour.