WASHINGTON, July 31, 2025 (by Michael Dickens)
Looking back on winning his 10th career ATP Tour title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C. Sunday evening, Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur admits he felt in a great head space from the get-go. The fast hard courts at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center in Rock Creek Park were suited to his hard-working game style, too.
On the eve of defeating Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the title match of the ATP 500 event, the seventh-seeded de Minaur said he played some good matches, some difficult matches. But he gave himself a chance at the title.
And what a title match it was between de Minaur and No. 12 seed Davidovich, which the new World No. 8 from Australia won, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (3), in three hours and three minutes of electrifying and entertaining tennis on a warm and sticky summer evening in the nation’s capital city. De Minaur accumulated 24 winners – including nine aces – to offset 45 unforced errors, compared to 28 winners and 57 unforced errors for Davidovich Fokina. He converted four of nine break-point chances and saved five of eight break points from his opponent. De Minaur outpointed his opponent 116-105. It was scrappy tennis at its best.
A night he’ll never forget @alexdeminaur | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/8QqXAzEkWA
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
It took de Minaur saving three championship points to deny Davidovich Fokina, 26, of winning his first career ATP Tour title. Soon, after he secured his first championship point with a perfectly-placed, solid ace out wide, in an act of pure sportsmanship, de Minaur went over to console the defeated Spaniard, who had buried his head in a towel – looking teary-eyed and despondent – and sitting alone on his bench after coming so close to victory and title.
The 26-year-old de Minaur’s journey to his first DC Open crown began in 2018 when, at age 19, he lost the final in straight sets to Alexander Zverev. “I just stayed in the moment, competed to the last point, and thanks to that, I got my tenth title,” he said during his champion’s news conference. “Extremely happy with myself.”
It was de Minaur’s 35th victory and first title of the 2025 season – his ATP-leading 22nd hard-court win this year – and he became the fifth Australian champion in event history. Importantly, it put him in the right mind set for the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto, which began Sunday while the Sydneysider was still competing in Washington, D.C., and continues through Aug. 7. The ninth-seeded de Minaur played his first match in Toronto against No. 71 Francisco Comesana of Argentina and won 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday evening to advance.
Looking back on how Sunday evening’s DC Open championship match turned in de Minaur’s favor, first he broke Davidovich Fokina to get back on serve at 4-5 in the third set, after earlier trailing 2-5. Then, as de Minaur was serving to level the deciding set, he fended off three championship points during a wild and crazy, 14-and-one-half minute service hold that stretched across 18 points and included six deuce points.
Speechless…#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/YTkuYYvGcX
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
“You’re in a zone, to be honest,” the resilient de Minaur said. “It’s a battle out there. It’s a battle against yourself, against your opponent. Points are being played. Some are being played well by your opponent. Some are being played well by you.
“There is the odd error here and there, and you’re just trying to find ways to win that game no matter what, right? When there are so many points being played in that game, you start sometimes double-guessing your own tactics, right? Because you’ve gone through the same patterns so often. The same spots. Where do I serve? Look, I think he knows I’m going to serve this side, but maybe, because of that, I’m going to serve to the other one, and he’s there.
“It was just playing on gut feel out there and just competing, right? Which is what I do so well.”
THREE match points saved!@alexdeminaur claws back from 2-5 to 5-5 in the final set.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Gh7BIL7zYJ
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
Suddenly, a momentum switch – or twist of fate – gave the agile de Minaur new hope. Ultimately, the 10th game turned things around and went in favor of the Aussie. Soon, he – and not Davidovich Fokina – won it all during a decisive tie-break.
“It’s something about this court,” de Minaur recalled, during a brief sideline TV interview with ATP Media prior to the trophy ceremony. “I did it in 2018 against Rublev and honestly, I just kind of knew I could do it.”
De Minaur was making reference to four match points he saved against Andrey Rublev during his three-set semifinal win before losing the final to Zverev the next afternoon.
“I just backed myself and told myself to commit no matter what and if I lost this match it was going to be on my terms,” he said. “Today it went my way. I’ve had a couple of brutal ones not go my way, so I’m glad this one went my way.”’
Demon does it – and in some style
It’s double digits for @alexdeminaur as he captures the title in Washington in dramatic fashion! @mubadalacitidc | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/8Ow711lsbe
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 28, 2025
De Minaur’s path to winning the DC Open title included wins over Bu Yunchaokete of China, No. 11 seed Jiri Lehecka of Czechia, No. 14 seed Brandon Nakashima of the United States in the quarterfinals, lucky loser Corentin Moutet of France in the semifinals and Davidovich Fokina in the final.
“When I step out on court, I want to win,” said the 6-foot, 152-pound de Minaur, who is among the hardest working and most fit players on tour. “I don’t take anyone lightly. Whether it’s practice, whether it’s a match, doesn’t matter who I’m playing against. I’m competing from the very first point to the last. That, for me, is key, having that focus and that intensity, because ultimately, I mean, every is so good, right?
“You give themself a little bit of a sniff, a chance, they grow in confidence, and then you’re in a battle.
“So everyone can play out there on the court, so for me, it’s all about just showing up every single day and letting them know that, you know, if they want to beat me, they’ve got to be ready for a very tough match.”
No words needed@alexdeminaur | #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/PQTmGqSEsW
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
De Minaur was asked during his champion’s news conference what he thought when he saw Davidovich Fokina sulking – alone – and what he said when he sat down next to him.
“Yeah, look, it’s absolutely brutal. I feel for him,” de Minaur admitted. “Look, nothing I could say in that moment was going to make the situation better. I just wanted to let him know how good of a player he is. He is way too good to not have a title.
“It’s just a matter of time. He’s an incredible player. He’s had five Top-10 wins this year. He’s someone that no one wants to play against, right?
“I did my best to try to make the situation a little bit better, but look, I know he’s on the up. His whole team knows he’s on the up. Everyone in the locker room knows he’s on the up. He’s going to be a very dangerous player to play against in the hard-court swing.”
Top-tier sportsmanship after a tough battle #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Wcv921FP0V
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
Soon, after de Minaur secured championship point, on a service ace, he launched a tennis ball out of the stadium, then threw his wrist bands into the crowd. It was an emotional moment for him.
“In the immediate moment, it’s just relief,” he said. “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.
“And the way I played that tie-break, I committed to my shots. I went after it. Yeah, it’s just a sense of relief, proud of the way I have been dealing with my emotions and feelings on and off the court. I have put in a lot of work on that. It’s amazing to see the rewards so soon. It means I’m definitely doing something right.”
From 3-5, 0-30 down in the deciding set…@alexdeminaur #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Ik18fGK1to
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 28, 2025
Later, de Minaur celebrated his title win by enjoying a glass of wine with his team, acknowledging his incredible week. “Then, I’ll be flying to Toronto [Monday] and probably practicing in the afternoon and getting ready for another week, because the tennis world doesn’t stop,” he said.
The new DC Open champion said he will fondly remember his Washington, D.C. mornings spent wandering around Georgetown, near his hotel, having a coffee with his team.
“If you end up winning a title, it means you’re in a great head space all week, so whatever helps you get in that head space.”
