By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday April 30, 2021
Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated Ugo Humbert to book a spot in the Estoril Open semifinals.
Photo Source: Getty
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina pushed past Ugo Humbert to reach the semifinal of the Estoril Open for a second time on Friday, 6-4 6-4.
The 21-year-old Spaniard sets a clash with Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the last four, while Marin Cilic and Cameron Norrie will play the semis in the lower half.
Davidovich Fokina is into his third career semifinal, and improves to 12-7 on the season with his win.
Tennis Now asked the World No.48 how his game has changed over the last two years and he said that he has primarily worked to take risk out of his game.
“I think I’m more patient, more calm with my game,” he said. “I play a little bit smarter, less aggressive, and that’s it. I think we changed a little bit my game to not play too many drop shots or play a bit more normal, with my drive, with my forehand and my backhand, to change a little bit my serve—changing a little bit my game.”
Davidovich Fokina has been working with former marathoner Martin Fiz to help strengthen his mental game in 2021. He told Tennis Now that he and his coach Jorge Aguirre want to learn more about the toughness that it takes to be a long distance runner and they felt that Fiz, who has been part of the team since the pre-season, could be a great help.
Ramos-Vinolas took out France’s Corentin Moutet, 6-4, 6-3, to improve to 14-5 on clay this season. The Spaniard is into his 17th ATP semifinal, and all of them have come on clay.
In the lower half of the draw Cilic moved past Kevin Anderson when the South African was forced to retire with an injury after dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, 7-6(7) RET.
The former World No.3 has now won three matches in a row for the second time this year. He will contest his 58th tour-level semifinal against Norrie, who topped second-seeded Cristian Garin, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. “For the moment, yes, but I don’t think it is my top.” “I can play both