Alex de Minaur beats Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in epic Washington DC Open final
The 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory gave de Minaur his first championship of 2025, and denied Davidovich Fokina his maiden crown.
De Minaur was favoured against his 26th-ranked opponent, but it was clear from the outset he would not have it all his own way as Davidovich Fokina produced some stirring shots to win the first set in over an hour.
The Australian number one hit back by tearing through the second set 6-1, before being broken in the fourth game of the decider as Davidovich Fokina jumped out to a 4-1 lead.
The 26-year-old served for the match at 5-3 and looked set for his first championship since turning pro in 2017 as he skipped to 30-0, before de Minaur battled back with four straight points to get back on serve.
Down 15-30 on his serve, de Minaur framed a low volley that snuck over the net and out of his opponent's reach before the pair carried on to the first of six deuces in what turned out to be a 10-minute game, during which de Minaur fought off three match points.
Both players overcame any jangling nerves with successive clutch service holds to send the match to a tiebreak.
De Minaur got the early mini break to jump out to a 2-0 lead, before being reeled back in to 2-2, only to poke his nose back out in front at 4-2.
Davidovich Fokina stayed in it with de Minaur's unforced error to keep it on serve, but the Australian rattled off three straight points to close out the match and win a thrilling decider.
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