Alejandro Davidovich is the highest-ranked player on the ATP Tour who has never won a title. He has finished second four times, three of which this season. A total of five championship points were missed in the last two.
Now the only thing standing between Davidovich Fokina and an elusive Swiss Indoors Basel title is a 19-year-old.
What could be possible is it going wrong?!?!
Well, a lot…at least if it’s anything like Davidovich Fokina’s two most recent finals against Miomir Kecmanovic and Alex de Minaur. In Delray Beach, Kecmanovic won the last five games, trailing 5-2 in the third set, while saving two match points. In Washington DC, De Minaur fought off three match points before prevailing in a third-set tiebreak.
Fortunately for Davidovich Fokina, there hasn’t been much drama in Basel. The 18th-ranked Spaniard survived a tight three-setter against Jenson Brooksby in the second round, but otherwise spent little energy against Lorenzo Sonego, Casper Ruud and Ugo Humbert. In fact, both Ruud and Humbert only completed one set (both in a tiebreak) before retiring.
Joao Fonseca will be on the other side of the net on Sunday, playing in his second ATP final and already looking for a second title before he turns twenty. The Brazilian, who lifted the Buenos Aires trophy in February, has advanced this week with wins over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Denis Shapovalov (via retirement while leading 4-1 in the third set) and Jaume Munar. Fonseca also received a walkover in the second round from Jakub Mensik.
Davidovich Fokina has played at an excellent level for almost the entire season. Only his head – especially in those three finals – has held the 26-year-old back. Of course, this is a huge stage for Fonseca and it wouldn’t be a surprise if nerves are also a factor for the teenager in an ATP 500 final, even though he already owns an ATP 250 trophy.
Fonseca is the bigger hitter, but Davidovich Fokina is clearly a more versatile player at this point in their respective careers. In what will likely be a nervous, back-and-forth battle, the ability to move to a “Plan B” could make the difference in Davidovich Fokina’s favor.
It might be his time.
Choice: Davidovich Fokina and 3
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