Alex de Minaur, the world No. 8 Australian tennis star, captured hearts worldwide with a compassionate gesture following his thrilling victory at the 2025 Washington Open final on July 27, 2025. After staging a remarkable comeback to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(3), saving three championship points, De Minaur consoled his tearful opponent, who was devastated by his fourth ATP final loss. The moment, which went viral, saw De Minaur sit beside Davidovich Fokina on the bench, offering words of encouragement, a scene praised by fans and players alike for its sportsmanship.
Reflecting on the gesture ahead of his Toronto Masters 1000 campaign, De Minaur told Tennis TV, “Before tennis players, we’re human beings, right? And I knew nothing I said in that moment would help at all, but I just wanted to let him know how good of a player he is, how he’s on the up, nonstop, he’s improving, he’s playing some incredible tennis, and he’s way too good of a player not to have a title.” This heartfelt sentiment underscored De Minaur’s empathy, rooted in their shared history as junior competitors and his understanding of the Spaniard’s frustration.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Davidovich Fokina, ranked No. 19, led 5-2 in the third set and held three match points, but De Minaur’s trademark resilience shone through. A desperate lob that clipped the sideline on one match point turned the tide, leading to a tiebreak victory. In his victory speech, De Minaur praised his opponent, saying, “Alejandro, you’re way too good not to have one of these [trophies]. It’s coming for sure. You deserved it today, I just got lucky.” Fans on X lauded the gesture, with one writing, “This is a very human, touching thing for Alex to do,” while another called it “one of the moments of the year.”
Davidovich Fokina, despite the heartbreak, reciprocated the respect, stating, “I want to say congrats to Alex. He deserved the win. He was fighting every f***ing ball.” The loss marked another near-miss for the Spaniard, who also squandered match points in finals at Delray Beach and Acapulco earlier in 2025. Yet, his run in Washington secured a career-high ranking, a milestone he acknowledged with gratitude.
De Minaur’s 10th ATP title, his eighth on hard courts, reinforced his top-10 status ahead of the US Open. His fiancée, WTA star Katie Boulter, celebrated the win and his sportsmanship on Instagram, adding to the emotional resonance of the moment. As De Minaur and Davidovich Fokina jetted off to Toronto together, the tennis world continued to buzz about this display of humanity, proving that even in fierce competition, compassion can shine through.
