{
  "id": 11105004,
  "title": "Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is back on track in Asia After US Open Absence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/alejandro-davidovich-fokina-is-back-on-track-in-asia-after-us-open",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T04:02:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alejandro-davidovich-fokina-back-track-040213129.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In July 2026, Spanish tennis player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina returned to competitive play in Asia after taking a break from the US Open due to a lower-back injury last year. His decision to prioritize his health over the lucrative prize money offered by the US Open proved to be a wise move, as he emerged stronger than ever.\n\nThe 27-year-old had enjoyed a stellar grass-court season in 2025, reaching the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club, winning Mallorca for his first ATP title, and advancing to the second week at Wimbledon. However, his progress was abruptly halted in Umag on clay, where he suffered a quarterfinal defeat and subsequently missed nearly three months recovering from his injury.\n\nIn a statement to Spanish media, Davidovich Fokina expressed his reservations about participating in the US Open, citing the challenging conditions of playing five sets in the heat and his lack of full recovery. He emphasized that it was not advisable for him to enter the tournament at that moment.\n\nDavidovich Fokina's decision to skip the US Open paid off in spades during his return to action. In Chengdu, he showcased remarkable resilience, overcoming a set deficit to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili in the semifinals. In the final, he faced off against Hubert Hurkacz in a grueling match, ultimately prevailing 6-4, 7-6(7) in a battle of strong serves and mental fortitude.\n\nDavidovich Fokina's victory in Chengdu marked the beginning of his journey to Tokyo, where he will face off against Matteo Berrettini in the round of 32. Currently ranked No. 26 in the world, the Spaniard sits 12 places below his career-high ranking of No. 14, achieved in November 2025. With 27 tour-level wins this year, despite his injury setback, Davidovich Fokina is displaying the talent and determination to be a regular contender in ATP events throughout 2026.",
  "summary": "Last month, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina made a tough decision that many players wouldn't: he decided to skip the US Open and its guaranteed prize money to try to get healthy for the rest of the year. That's a decision that showed wisdom just a few weeks later, as Davidovich Fokina won ATP Chengdu and …",
  "key_points": [
    "Alejandro Davidovich Fokina returns to competitive play in Asia after US Open absence.",
    "27-year-old Spanish tennis player won ATP title in Mallorca in 2025.",
    "Defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6(7) to advance to Tokyo tournament."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}