In a heart-pounding display of resilience, Alex de Minaur, Australia’s top-ranked tennis star, staged a remarkable comeback to win the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open, defeating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a thrilling final. The 26-year-old, known for his relentless speed and tenacity, saved three match points to secure a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3) victory, claiming his 10th ATP title and his first of the 2025 season. The three-hour, three-minute marathon at Washington’s Rock Creek Park Tennis Center captivated fans, showcasing De Minaur’s fighting spirit and cementing his return to the ATP top 10.
The final was a rollercoaster from the start. De Minaur and Davidovich Fokina, both 26 and tied 2-2 in their head-to-head rivalry, traded breaks early in the first set. The Spaniard seized control with crisp forehand winners, capitalizing on De Minaur’s unforced errors to take the set 7-5. Undeterred, De Minaur roared back in the second, dominating with a 12-of-15 point surge to lead 3-0. His pinpoint serving, including five aces, and aggressive net play overwhelmed Davidovich Fokina, leveling the match in just over 30 minutes. “I just backed myself, and I told myself to commit no matter what,” De Minaur reflected, recalling his mindset after a tough opening set.
The third set tested De Minaur’s resolve. Trailing 5-2, with Davidovich Fokina serving for the match at 5-3, the Australian faced three championship points in a grueling 18-point 10th game. Each time, De Minaur’s trademark scrambling defense and fearless shot-making kept him alive, culminating in a jaw-dropping backhand winner to fend off the third match point. “ALEX DE MINAUR SAVED A 3RD CHAMPIONSHIP POINT AGAINST DAVIDOVICH FOKINA LIKE THIS,” one social media post exclaimed, capturing the electric moment when De Minaur’s lob barely landed on the line, followed by a masterful passing shot. The crowd erupted as he forced a tiebreaker, where he won the final three points to seal the victory.
“In that immediate moment, it’s just relief,” De Minaur said post-match, acknowledging the weight of recent close losses. “I have had some tough losses this year, 7-6 in the third, and kind of just felt like it was a huge weight off my back.” His composure in the tiebreaker, where he capitalized on Davidovich Fokina’s 57 unforced errors compared to his 45, underscored his mental growth. “The way I played that tiebreak, I committed to my shots, I went after it,” he added, crediting his off-court work on emotional resilience.
For Davidovich Fokina, the loss was a gut-wrenching blow. The No. 12 seed, still seeking his first ATP title after four finals, had toppled top seed Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton en route to the final. “I want to say congrats to Alex. He deserved the win. He was fighting every f—ing ball,” Davidovich Fokina said, his frustration palpable. Despite the defeat, his career-high No. 19 ranking reflects his progress. “We had a job to do before we started the year, to be at the middle of the year in the top 20,” he noted, finding solace in his achievement.
De Minaur’s victory, his eighth on hard courts, marks him as the fourth Australian since 1990 to win 10 or more ATP titles, joining legends like Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter. His 35 match wins in 2025 place him among the tour’s elite, trailing only Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. “I came here in 2018 and it gave me so much confidence, so I’m so happy that I was able to come back and end up winning the title,” he said, recalling his runner-up finish to Zverev seven years ago. His graciousness shone through as he consoled Davidovich Fokina, saying, “Alejandro, you’re way too good not to have one of these, it’s coming for sure. You deserved it today, I just got lucky.”
With the US Open looming, De Minaur’s DC Open triumph, worth $420,525 in prize money, sets the stage for a strong North American swing. As he heads to Toronto for the Canadian Open, where he’s seeded No. 9, De Minaur plans to savor the moment briefly. “Tonight, I’ll be enjoying a glass of wine with the team,” he said, acknowledging the sacrifices behind his success. For fans, his “Speed Demon” nickname and relentless fight make him a force to watch in the weeks ahead.
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