Second-best Spanish player behind Carlos Alcaraz, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina brings with him an electric brand of tennis that lights up every court he steps on. Gone is the era when Spanish players were almost exclusively labelled as clay-court specialists. The landscape has shifted considerably over the past decade and, in the wake of the Murcian prodigy, "ADF" has emerged as another standard‑bearer for a spectacular, high‑octane and versatile style of play, one that thrives on clay, but also on faster surfaces, from the baseline as well as moving forward.

Coming from an athletic and multicultural family – his father was a high‑level boxer – the Malaga native showcased his all‑court potential from a young age. In 2017, he became the first Spaniard in 50 years to win the Wimbledon boys’ singles title, following in the footsteps of Manuel Orantes. Turning professional shortly thereafter, he wasted no time making his mark on the Tour: round of 16 at the US Open in 2020 at just 21, then a breakout run the following year with a quarter‑final at Roland‑Garros, highlighted by an epic, hard‑fought victory over Casper Ruud.

A complete and highly talented player, Davidovich Fokina — known for occasionally taking the court with mismatched socks, and for having been coached by Mariano Puerta, a former Roland‑Garros finalist and Rafael Nadal’s first victim in 2005 — also reached the Monte‑Carlo Masters final in 2022. A long‑time presence on the edge of the Top 10 and feared by virtually everyone on tour, he now needs only a major title to cement his place among the very best. And perhaps become, in time, as much a rival as a right‑hand man to "Carlitos".