ATP Acapulco: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina halts in-form Denis Shapovalov

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stood on the verge of R1 exit on the ATP 500 occasion in Acapulco. Nonetheless, the Spaniard saved 4 match factors towards Mattia Bellucci and ousted two extra opponents to e-book a spot in his third ATP last!

Alejandro confronted his in-form coeval Denis Shapovalov within the semi-final and prevailed 7-6, 7-6 in two hours and quarter-hour for his second ATP last of the season. Shapovalov chased his second consecutive ATP 500 title and had his possibilities. 

The Canadian served for the opener at 5-3 and had a chanse to wrap up the second serve at 6-5. Nonetheless, he skilled essential breaks and fell within the pivotal moments to propel his coeval by means of.

Denis Shapovalov was serving for the primary set and the second set… he ended up shedding in straights and crumbled in each tiebreaks

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has an opportunity to redeem himself from the Delray Seashore debacle pic.twitter.com/V4V7ZoKues

— Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) March 1, 2025

Davidovich Fokina claimed 9 factors greater than his rival. He served at 70% and outplayed his opponent behind the primary and second serve. The Spaniard performed towards seven break factors and skilled 4 breaks. Shapovalov struggled to search out the primary serve. 

He performed towards ten break factors and denied six, squandering his alternatives and ending his run within the final 4. They 80 unforced errors, and Alejandro tamed his strokes extra effectively with 25 winners and 37 unforced errors. 

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

Denis solid a slight hole in service winners and on the web. Nonetheless, he misplaced the bottom from the baseline, the place the Spaniard led 65-50. The Canadian sprayed too many forehand errors and skilled six mini-breaks. 

Shapovalov saved break factors within the third sport of the duel and welcomed the rival’s free backhand within the subsequent one for a break and a 3-1 benefit. Davidovich Fokina confronted extra points at 1-4, saving break factors and holding to stay in rivalry. 

Denis Shapovalov & Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

The Spaniard pulled the break again in sport seven with a forehand winner earlier than experiencing one other setback within the subsequent one. Denis broke for 5-3 and served for the opener in sport 9. He despatched a backhand lengthy to drop serve and maintain his rival alive. 

They served effectively within the remaining three video games and launched a tie break. The Canadian performed a horrible forehand at 2-2 and fell behind. A left-hander diminished the hole to 4-3 earlier than sending a routine forehand lengthy. Alejandro landed a service winner at 6-3, wrapping up the opener in 65 minutes.

The Spaniard broke within the second sport of the second set and solid a 3-0 benefit. He missed one other break likelihood at 4-1 and struggled on serve in sport seven. Davidovich Fokina performed a free forehand and suffered a break at 15. 

Denis Shapovalov, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

Denis returned to the constructive facet and made one other push on the return at 5-5. He welcomed the rival’s backhand error and served for the set in sport 12. Alejandro stored his composure and claimed an entertaining level with a smash winner for a break likelihood. 

The Spaniard transformed it after a volley mistake from the Canadian, introducing a tie break and gaining a lift. Davidovich Fokina painted a backhand crosscourt winner within the second level and solid a 3-0 lead after Shapovalov’s double fault. 

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Acapulco 2025© Stream screenshot

Alejandro cracked a forehand down the road winner for 4-0 and landed a service winner within the subsequent level to increase the hole. Flying over the court docket, the Spaniard cracked a forehand crosscourt winner for 6-0 and 6 match factors. 

He transformed the second with a forehand winner, transferring excessive and reaching the title conflict.