Alex De Minaur lifts Washington Open trophy after epic final set comeback.
Alex De Minaur pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) and capture the Washington Open title on Sunday, marking his 10th career ATP title. The Australian showcased remarkable resilience, rallying from a set down and saving three match points in a dramatic final set.
The match began with both players trading early breaks before Fokina seized momentum in the opening set, using clean forehand winners to break again and take it 7-5.
But De Minaur bounced back impressively in the second, dominating with aggressive returns and precise shot placement. He converted two of four break chances and sealed the set with an ace in just over 30 minutes.
The decider saw Davidovich Fokina regain control with a break, and he appeared poised to win when serving at 5-3. However, nerves crept in, and a long forehand gave De Minaur the break back. The Spaniard had three match points on De Minaur’s serve later in the set but failed to convert, as the Australian held firm under pressure.
In the decisive tiebreak, De Minaur kept his composure while Fokina faltered with unforced errors. The seventh-seeded Australian raced ahead and closed out the match.
It was a gutsy, mental triumph for De Minaur, who proved his tenacity once again on the big stage. For Fokina, the final marked another near miss in his pursuit of a first ATP title.
