Career reflection on podcast

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who recently won the Shanghai Masters 1000 title, shared his career journey in an interview with Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán for their podcast Tennis Insider Club, which aired on Monday, October 19. The interview offered insights into his personal and professional challenges over the years.

Pressure after junior success

The Spaniard, currently ranked 13th in the world, admitted he considered quitting tennis after his junior Wimbledon victory in 2017. He described a period of intense pressure and self-doubt, struggling to cope with the attention and facing difficulties in maintaining his performance, which led to a loss of confidence.

Financial struggles in early career

Davidovich Fokina also discussed the financial challenges he faced in his early career, noting that his income from tennis was not enough to cover travel and other expenses. This forced him to seek sponsorship to continue playing, and he described the three months following his junior Wimbledon win as particularly difficult, marked by losses and doubts about his abilities.

Turning point in 2024

The Spaniard explained that he regained control of his career in 2024 by moving to Monaco to train with top players and building his team from scratch. At the time, he had no coach, physio, trainer, or agent and made all decisions independently. He expressed satisfaction with the choices he made, crediting them with helping him build confidence and achieve his current success.