Spanish tennis player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina captured his maiden career title on Tour by powering past tournament sensation Ethan Quinn in the Mallorca Championships final on Saturday.
Following an unrelenting run to his sixth career championship match at tour level, world No. 25 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina surged victorious, 7-6(4), 6-3, over young American player Ethan Quinn, becoming a first-time champion.
In addition, the second seed etched his name in the tournament's history as the first Spanish player to lift the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Mallorca Championships trophy in 25 years.
"It feels amazing to have the first title after five finals,ā the Malaga native said. āToday was a very tough battle. He played amazingly. In the tiebreak, I was pushing myself. In the end, I knew that this one had to be mine, in Spain, at home, the first one. It should be mine, and I pushed a lot.ā
Throughout a highly competitive week, the 27-year-old built a consistent campaign, dropping just one set in his semifinal match against Fabian Marozsan to set up a meeting with Quinn for the crown.
The 22-year-old arrived in Mallorca at a career high of world No. 48, soon making headlines, as he dug deep to advance to his first final at tour level.
Brad Stine's pupil stepped on the court on Saturday to play Fokina for the first time, and the intriguing duel did not disappoint the fans.
āThe crowd was amazing. I felt the love today,ā the home favorite added.
āOne hundred percent, the title is for them, for the Spanish people that supported me and all the journey last year and this year. It was a tough, very tough year, but [a] very, very good year."
In an entertaining encounter, Quinn pushed the former world No. 14 against the wall when serving out the opening set, which unfolded into a tiebreak that the Spaniard took 7-6(4), hitting first.
As the second set wore on, Queen's quarterfinalist became the dominant force, eventually sealing the triumph in one hour and 44 minutes.
Sharp on serve, the experienced player won 76 percent of the points on his first serve and 52 percent on his second delivery, converting two of five break point opportunities.
"I'm very happy [with] how I performed today, and I don't have any words to describe this feeling right now," Fokina remarked during the trophy ceremony.
As for the young American, his standout campaign will see him earn a new career-high on Monday with Wimbledon just around the corner.