Manuel Chávez
Dailysports's expert
Carlos Alcaraz
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
On June 17, in the opening round of the London tournament, Carlos Alcaraz faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Here’s my exclusive prediction for this highly anticipated clash.
Carlos Alcaraz
“Carlitos” is one of the world’s top players right now, with fans still buzzing about his last Roland Garros appearance, where he defeated Sinner in a five-set thriller, saving three match points in the fourth set.
Currently ranked world number two, Alcaraz has already captured four titles this year, including the aforementioned major. The surface doesn’t make much difference for him—his stats reveal he’s a formidable force even on grass. At just 22, he’s already claimed five Grand Slam titles. At this pace, he’s not far from breaking records, but consistency and composure remain key.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Davidovich Fokina can’t boast the same accolades as his compatriot. Now 26, he’s certainly no longer considered a promising up-and-comer. Still, holding the 28th spot in the world rankings is a solid achievement.
This season, Davidovich Fokina reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo and played in the finals of Acapulco and Delray Beach. However, at the last Roland Garros, he was knocked out in the second round. The London tournament draw hasn’t been kind to him, but he’s not one to give up before the first ball is struck.
Match facts
- Alcaraz has won 37 matches this season, suffering only five defeats.
- Davidovich Fokina has played 37 matches, winning 23 of them.
- Bookmakers are offering these odds: Alcaraz win – 1.07, Davidovich Fokina win – 9.5
Head-to-head
The players have met twice before, with Alcaraz leading 2-0, though both encounters were hard-fought. Their most recent clash was earlier this year in the Monte Carlo semifinals, where Davidovich Fokina fell 6-7, 4-6.
Prediction
In this all-Spanish derby, Alcaraz is the undisputed favorite. Davidovich Fokina has already shown he can put up stiff resistance against his compatriot, but this will be their first meeting on grass. I expect a competitive match and suggest betting on the total games over 19.5.
