Skip to content
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina hit a costly underarm serve in the fifth set tie-break of his third-round defeat. John Walton/PA

Fokina loses after trying underarm serve at 8-8 in final set tie-breaker, has no regrets

Fokina’s gamble backfired, allowing Holger Rune to seal victory on the very next point.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA insisted he had no regrets despite an ill-advised underarm serve virtually handing victory to Holger Rune in their third-round clash at Wimbledon.

The Spaniard had let an 8-5 lead slip in the deciding first-to-10-point tie-break when, at 8-8, he decided to pull out an underarm serve, which sixth seed Rune easily put away before clinching a 6-3 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 (8) win on the next point.

Davidovich Fokina was unrepentant, though, calling the shot simply “another serve”. Asked if he would make the same decision again, he added: “Why not?”

The 24-year-old, who is ranked 34, insisted he would look back on the match positively, saying: “I won’t regret anything.

“I’m happy for this match that I did because I was struggling on grass and how I played today I convinced myself that I have a lot of things in myself.”

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John
    Favourite John
    Report
    Jul 8th 2023, 10:27 PM

    There is a fine line between genius and insanity. Was he brave or was he stupid..
    If it had worked, there would be a completely different headline.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Kennedy
    Favourite Joe Kennedy
    Report
    Jul 9th 2023, 1:16 AM

    @John: don’t see what all the fuss is about….. I serve like that all the time. Way easier to get it in!

    20
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a comment

 
cancel reply