ATP player wins title on his return to tennis after nearly three months out

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is a two-time ATP Tour champion.

The Spaniard, 27, defeated former Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz in the Chengdu Open final, triumphing 6-4, 7-6 on Centre Court.

Remarkably, Fokina was playing in his first tournament upon returning from long-term injury. Prior to Chengdu, Fokina last competed at the Umag Open in July.

Fokina’s tournament victory also comes just three months after his maiden tour triumph in Mallorca.

Prior to Mallorca, Fokina was widely considered to be one of the best players on the ATP Tour to have never won an ATP Tour-level event.

Fokina has now doubled his trophy count within the space of three months.

The Spaniard offered his immediate reaction in the aftermath of Tuesday’s contest.

“First of all I want to congratulate Hubi and the team for this performance this tournament,” Fokina said in his post-match speech. “He was playing very good. For sure he’s gonna be at his highest ranking as soon as possible. Man, you’re playing very good. Congratulations.

“It’s not easy this speech. I was 3 months and a half out of the tournaments. I was injured. This victory I want to dedicate to all my team, my family, my wife. It wasn’t easy. I just want to say thanks to them. Their support was very very high.

“Supporting me every day was not easy. Being 2 months at home, and I am very proactive.. So you can imagine how it can be. But we did a lot of effort to come back stronger…. to be in the best performance I can be. I want to say a big thank you to all my team and to my family.

“I want to say thank you to all the sponsors that support this tournament.. it was my first time here seeing the pandas. I was enjoying a lot here in Chengdu. For the first time today there was sun. It was beautiful. I want to say thanks to them.

Round of 16: defeated Juan Manuel Cerundolo, 6-4, 6-4

Quarter-finals: defeated Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-5

Semi-finals: defeated Nikolos Basilashvili 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Final: defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6

“Not last, to all my Chinese fans that were supporting me since the first day. I was feeling all the warmth you were giving me. Thanks to all of you.

“All the ball kids were very happy when I was off court and all the staff were very kind with me. Thank you to all of you.”

After triumphing in Chengdu, Fokina will travel east for the Japan Open.

Fokina is set to contest his first round match in Tokyo against 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

Fokina has a 1-1 record against the former world number eight.

The Spaniard defeated Berrettini in their first match at the 2021 Monte Carlo Masters. A year later, Berrettini avenged his defeat, triumphing 3-6 7-6 6-3 4-6 6-2 in the US Open fourth round.

The winner of Fokina and Berrettini will play either Adolfo Daniel Vallejo or fourth seed Rafael Jodar in the second round.

If Fokina advances to the quarter-finals, he will likely play fifth seed Brandon Nakashima or Jiri Lehecka.

Carlos Alcaraz, Fokina’s compatriot, is the defending Japan Open champion. The seven-time Grand Slam champion defeated Taylor Fritz in last year’s final, and has returned this year seeking to become the first man to defend the Japan Open Men’s Singles title since Pete Sampras in 1994.

Alcaraz has been handed a tough draw in the Japanese capital. He faces US Open quarter-finalist Alex Michelsen in the first round.