Davidovich Fokina wakes up early and clinches spot in last 16 at Toronto Masters against Rublev

Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina didn’t just wake up early on Friday at the Aviva Centre, he also outlasted Czech Jakub Mensik, the No. 12 seed, with a straight-sets 6-2, 6-4 victory to reach the last 16 of the Toronto Masters. The No. 20 seed and world No. 26 will next face Russian Andrey Rublev, the No 6 seed, won against Italian Lorenzo Sonego, the No 28 seed, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.

Finally, it seems Davidovich Fokina is indeed a morning man, despite his well-publicized grumbles about the early match time. Before stepping on court at 11 a.m. local in. Canada, he vented on social media: “Why am I the only one playing at 11am? Come on ATP, give me some love 🙃 #EarlyBirdProblems.” British player Dan Evans delivered what might pass for tough love, replying, “Get up and play. The world gets up and works from 9 to 5 or even 8 to 6. Pathetic.”

Davidovich Fokina’s journey to the third round in Toronto was no stroll in the park. His solid win over Frenchman Corentin Moutet in the second round, 6-4, 6-3, marked a personal milestone – his 33rd match win this season, surpassing his previous best of 32 wins set last year. Moreover, this marked Davidovich Fokina’s 20th victory on hard courts this season, a milestone only one other male player has achieved so far this year.

Having recently come close to clinching the Washington Open title – only to fall in the final after holding championship points against Alex de Minaur – his on-court determination is as palpable as his off-court frustrations.

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Toronto Masters 1000, other third-round results (Aviva Centre, hard, USD 9.193.540, most recent results first):

• Brandon Nakashima vs. Ben Shelton
• Alex De Minaur (9) beat Christopher O’Connell: W/O
• Gabriel Diallo vs. Taylor Fritz
• Flavio Cobolli vs. Fabian Marozsan
• Frances Tiafoe vs. Aleksandar Vukic
• Arthur Fils vs. Jiri Lehecka
• Andrey Rublev vs. Lorenzo Sonego
• Alexei Popyrin (18) beat Daniil Medvedev (10): 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
• Holger Rune (5) beat Alexandre Muller (29): 6-2, 6-4
• Alexander Zverev (1) beat Matteo Arnaldi (32): 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2
• Learner Tien beat Reilly Opelka: 7-6 (3), 6-3
• Casper Ruud (8) beat Nuno Borges (30): 7-5, 6-4
• Francisco Cerundolo (14) beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry: 6-3, 6-4
• Alex Michelsen (26) beat Lorenzo Musetti (3): 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4
• Karen Khachanov (11) beat Emilio Nava (Q): 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1