Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s first ATP title also marks a turning point in his career. After winning the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships, the Málaga native said the victory gives him an extra boost of confidence. “It’s been a very positive week. I’ve broken the barrier of reaching finals, and it gives me a lot of confidence to keep working with my team, keep believing, and keep aiming high,” he explained.

Davidovich admitted that before stepping onto the court, he approached the final with a different mindset from usual. “I was calm. I kept telling myself that if I lost, it wouldn’t be the end of the world — just fight until the end. That’s what Pepo asks of me: to fight for every ball without thinking too much about the score. The first set was very demanding, with a lot of nerves, but when I won it, I knew he would have to raise his level considerably to beat me.”

The Málaga native also explained how he managed the pressure before the final. “We really love playing cards. We play all day — we’re addicted. In the end, my coach also helps us relax and not think too much about it being a final.” Regarding becoming the first Spaniard to win a tournament in Mallorca in the last 25 years, he said he felt “very grateful and proud to have played my part in this tournament.”

Far from any big celebrations, Davidovich said he would barely have time to process the victory before Wimbledon. “We’ll enjoy it on the plane to Wimbledon. We’ll play a few cards and that’ll be our celebration, because we’re travelling tonight,” he concluded.