Epic Battle in D.C.: Alex de Minaur claims 10th career title after saving three match points
Alex de Minaur captured the 10th title of his career, his third at the ATP 500 level.
Alex de Minaur, Washington 2025 – © Geoff Burke-Imagn Images/Sipa USA/SIPA
After a one-sided women’s final, the men’s showdown in Washington turned into a gripping thriller. Alex de Minaur triumphed on Sunday, edging out Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a dramatic three-set clash (7-5, 1-6, 7-6), having saved three match points in the decider.
It marks the 10th ATP title of the Australian’s career and his third at the ATP 500 level. With this victory, de Minaur climbs five spots in the ATP rankings, making a return to the Top 10.
Since the inaugural ATP Tour season in 1990, Alex de Minaur is the fourth Australian to claim 10+ tournament victories at ATP level along with Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis.
The match’s pivotal moment came deep in the third set. Serving to stay in the match at 4-5, the world No. 13 faced triple match point. Davidovich Fokina, still chasing a maiden ATP title after losing his first three finals, including two in 2025, appeared on the brink of a breakthrough.
It feels good to lift my 10th trophy
But true to his dogged reputation, De Minaur refused to fold. He saved all three match points, the last of which with a trademark scrambling defensive play and turned the tide. The Spaniard, who had led 5-2 in the final set, saw his chances slip away before ultimately crumbling in the tiebreak, which he lost 7-3.
“There’s something about this court,” De Minaur said after the win. “I did it in 2018 against Rublev and honestly, I just knew I could do it.” That year, he had saved four match points in the semifinals before falling to Alexander Zverev in the final.
“I trusted myself and told myself to go all in, no matter what. If I was going to lose, it would be on my own terms. Today, it went my way. I’ve had some tough ones that didn’t, so I’m just glad this one did.”
“I’m really happy with where I’m at right now, with how I’m managing things on and off the court,” he added. “I knew that even if it hadn’t gone my way today, it would still have been a great week. So I was proud of the effort either way, but man, it feels good to lift my 10th trophy.”
With this win, the North American summer swing kicks off in the best possible way for de Minaur, who is now just two spots shy of his career-best ranking. He’ll look to carry the momentum into the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, which got underway Monday in Canada.
