By Chris Oddo | Friday May 3, 2019
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina stunned Gael Monfils to reach his first career semi-final at the Millenium Estoril Open in Portugal.
Photo Source: Estoril Open
Former Wimbledon Boys Singles champion Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is having a breakout week in Portugal. The 19-year-old claimed his first ATP win earlier in the week and has now reeled off five straight victories through qualifying to take his place in the semi-finals.
The Spaniard rallied from a set down to take down Gael Monfils on Friday at Estoril, claiming a 6-7(2) 7-5 6-4 victory over the Frenchman that lasted two hours and 14 minutes.
Davidovich Fokina, who twice squandered a break lead in the third set, broke for 5-4 and held serve to clinch his biggest career win. It sets a semi-final clash with either Frances Tiafoe or Pablo Cuevas on Saturday.
Top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas reached the semi-finals on Friday with a 7-6(3) 6-4 victory over Portugal’s Joao Domingues, while David Goffin also advanced with a 4-6 7-6(4) 6-2 triumph over Malek Jaziri.
Tsitsipas leads Goffin 3-2 in their lifetime head-to-head but the Belgian took their only meeting on clay last year at Monte-Carlo.
"I feel like I was much more disciplined than usual," the Greek said after his victory, according to ATPWorldTour.com. "I'm really happy with the victory. I didn’t start very well, but I managed to find my rhythm game by game and broke back when I had to… I got the break back and then I felt like the momentum was going to me."