Davidovich asks for passage

With an ace and on his knees on the ground, Alejandro Davidovich put an end to the suffering and closed the victory over Grigor Dimitrov (6-4, 6-7 (2) and 6-3 in 2h:43) that helps you achieve first career final. And not just any one, but the Monte Carlo Masters 1,000the one from the sacred land of monsters like Rafa Nadal, Bjorn Borg, Guilermo Vilas, Ilie Nastase or Thomas Muster. This Sunday (14:30, #Vamos), the man from Malaga with the appearance of a foreigner, of Russian parents but born 22 years ago in Rincón de la Victoria (Málaga) and ‘boquerón’ like the best, will have the opportunity to fight for the title against current champion and number five in the world, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-2. Big words.

There are moments, tournaments, that serve to transform. Perhaps last Tuesday was that day that ‘Foki’ (nicknamed after his mother’s surname, Fokina) turned his career around when he knocked out his idol, number one Novak Djokovic.. Then David Goffin, Taylor Fritz and Grigor Dimitrov fell. That, out of the blue, when he came from starring in a poor season startwith six first rounds, two second and one third. Djokovic was the click that brought out the good he has inside. Not surprisingly, he was Wimbledon junior champion in 2017.

Davidovich, as Nadal has done so many times on Roger Federer’s one-handed shot, hammered the Bulgarian’s delicate backhand with high balls. (30 years old and 29th in the world, but who became third) until dismantling it. And ‘Baby Federer’ also made water there.

Jorge Aguirre, Malaga coach, says of him that he is a “crazy colt”. An anarchic and impatient volcano that can storm the skies if its lava is contained. It’s what he did against Dimitrov in the first moto. He had the calm, the patience, which his rival, a tennis player with eight titles, including the ATP Finals and the Cincinnati Masters in 2017, did not have. Davidovich, with tremendous control, broke for 2-1 and showed firmness. He only messed up a bit in the last game with an odd dropshot (30-30) but he handled it with aplomb.

THE VERTIGO

The two had already faced each other last year, in Rome with a victory for the Spanish. He knew how to win the tactical battle. After giving up her serve in the second game, she hit a counter-break and another break for 3-2. Effective with the blows of him. Deep, placed and lethal like those of that Floyd Mayweather whom he admires (his father was a boxer). At 5-4, he prepared to serve to win the game and felt the vertigo. Accelerated, delivered a break to Dimitrov that he did not deserve, he deflated and played a horrible tie-break that leveled the match.

Davidovich seemed disoriented. Aimlessly like other times, he conceded an entry break. He was looking into the abyss when he managed to save two break balls in a third game that lasted 14 minutes. (one with an underhand serve as a nod to his crazy nature) and refocused. Partial 5-0 and again ready to win with service. This time it did not fail. Could not.

At the Monte Carlo Country Club, which overlooks its Mediterranean, on the stage that was destined for the brilliance of Carlos Alcaraz (the 18-year-old from Murcia lost in his debut) without Nadal in the box, Davidovich claimed the leading role. And tomorrow he will aspire to be the sixth Spaniard to succeed in the Principality after Manuel Orantes (1975), Sergi Bruguera (1991 and 1993), Carlos Moyá (1998), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2002 and 2003) and Nadal (2005-2012 and 2016-2018). Davidovich, who from 46th place in the ranking has already made sure to start 27th, also asks for a step.