Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina knows the pressure and expectations of playing high-level tennis. In an interview with RG, the Spanish player talks about his career, thoughts, and dreams ahead of Roland Garros in Paris.
Fokina has come very close to winning his first tennis title several times. This year, he feels closer than ever. “This is the year I’ve felt closest to winning that first title,” Alejandro says. “The year is still long, there are many tournaments, and obviously every week I try to go further and beat better players. But above all, I try to enjoy being on court and give my best version.”
Fokina has had some impressive victories this year, including wins against top players like Fritz and Rublev. When asked if something changed to help him improve, he explained, “It all started in May last year, when I left the coach I’d had my whole life and decided to make a change. I moved from Spain to Monaco, where the top players train, and I rebuilt my team. It’s true that until November someone from the old team was still with me, but it felt like starting from scratch. It wasn’t easy. I was pretty out of it, wanting the season to end because the decision wasn’t easy, but I don’t regret for one second stepping out of that comfort zone and facing those fears.”
Facing fears was a mental challenge for Alejandro.
“When I was younger I worked more with a psychologist, but I haven’t done that in a long time. I don’t think it helped me much,” he admits.
“It’s more about a shift inside you and what you want to do. In the end, if you decide to do something, it doesn’t matter if 20 people tell you. And if you don’t want to do it, you won’t. The only way to face those fears is to decide for yourself that you don’t need anyone’s help to do it. And that’s what I did.”
Dreams of Roland Garros
His dream is to win Roland Garros. Grand Slams like this feel different to him. “All Grand Slams are very special for everyone, and you have to play best-of-five,” he explains. “In the end, I’m one of the players with the best percentage in long matches, so it doesn’t feel that tough. Of course, I’d like to win more matches in straight sets, but everyone plays well. There are lots of ups and downs. Matches are long, so it’s normal to lose a set or two. You have to adapt to the situation.”
Fokina also shared his thoughts on Rafael Nadal’s brief farewell in Málaga, Alejandro’s hometown. “I thought it was really sad. I think they had a proper farewell planned for later, but since Spain lost in the first round, it turned out like that. When I saw it, I said: ‘A tennis legend doesn’t deserve a sendoff like that.’ And not just in tennis, but off the court too. For me, every tournament in the world should honour him. Roland Garros is one of them. Nadal is the one who’s won that Slam the most, so it’ll surely be a beautiful moment.”
He also defended Alexander Zverev against critics who say he lacks fire.
When asked about Nick Kyrgios, Alejandro said, “I don’t know Kyrgios, I haven’t had any interaction with him. Obviously, if he played more, he’d be a potential top 10. He already showed that in the Wimbledon final. But to be one of the best, you have to be consistent and can’t have those ups and downs. He’s also had injuries. I think Kyrgios is one of the best players when he’s at his peak, but like I said, tennis gives and takes away. Stripping off the character, I think he’s a good guy.”
Managing Pressure and Expectations
For Fokina, the hardest part of tennis is staying at the top. “Many players get there, but staying is the hardest thing,” he explains. When dealing with losses, he has learned to handle them well. “Now I know how to handle losses well. I know that in tennis, you win and lose every week, and you have to manage that. If you’re well supported, your team understands that. They know you’ll have another shot the following week. It’s about seeing it as a process, learning from your mistakes, and correcting them.”
Fokina doesn’t worry too much about rankings now.
“It weighed on me more when I was ranked 70, at the beginning of the year,” he shares.
“I think I’m lucky to be where I am now and it doesn’t bother me. I want to keep moving forward and enjoy every week. I have to stay humble with every moment and everything that happens around me.”
He has faced tough times and even doubted his future in tennis. “Last year I had a moment like that,” he reveals. “If I’d known what was coming, I would’ve signed for that bad end of the year to start the best year of my career. In the end, going out there and losing over and over made me stronger.”
Alejandro has big plans after Roland Garros: he’s getting married.
“That’s my main focus after Paris, making sure everything is ready and enjoying it,” he says. His fiancée is preparing everything, and Alejandro tried on his suit in Rome. He feels calm now but expects nerves later. “I’ll probably get more nervous once we’re in the middle of the preparations. But we’re happy. I know we’ve done everything right, step by step.”
