The story of Fokina: a 7-year wait for a title, then winning 3 titles in one year.

The sixth breaks the curse

The turning point came in Mallorca on June 27, when Fokina defeated American Ethan Quinn in straight sets to win his first title on the ATP Tour.

That was his sixth final, following five unsuccessful attempts, including the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters final.

This time, the journey concluded on Spanish soil. After years of reaching finals that felt incomplete, Fokina finally had a title to build upon.

However, the season didn’t turn into a series of easy victories; a back injury forced another break, returning him to waiting, this time to get back on the court.

Two months out of competition

Fokina was absent for two months before returning at the Chengdu Open in late September. In his first tournament back, he won the title.

According to statements reported by Reuters, staying at home during his injury was difficult, but his team continued to support and encourage him, believing in his ability to achieve remarkable results.

The return was not just about regaining match rhythm; it ended with a second trophy, paving the way for a bigger test in Shanghai, one of the ATP Masters 1000 events.

The final starts from the toughest place

Against his compatriot Rafael Cuadar on Sunday, October 18, Fokina lost the first set 1-6. He then fell behind with a break in the second set, forcing him to change the course of the match to stay in it.

He regained his balance, clinching the second set in a tiebreak before winning the third set 6-4, finishing the match after two hours and 28 minutes.

That was not the only escape from defeat during the tournament; he saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe in the third round and turned around a set deficit against Hubert Hurkacz and Alexander Zverev on his way to the final.

Thus, his biggest titles came through matches where he had to seek new opportunities after his opponents seemed closer to victory.

The trophy carries other names

After the victory, Fokina expressed a sense of relief and reiterated his gratitude to his team, who supported him during injuries and absences.

He also noted that the strong return of his French friend Arthur Fils after a long absence from tournaments motivated him to believe he could do the same.

With the Shanghai title, the transformation from five losses in his first five finals to winning the next three finals was complete.

The injury did not disappear from the season's story, nor were the previous defeats erased. But it no longer marked the end: the player who waited seven years to lift a trophy finished his journey in China holding his third.

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From his first appearance on the professional tour in April 2019 to his first title in June 2026, the wait lasted years, but the following months saw a transformation that wasn’t halted by a back injury that kept him out of competition for two months.

The story of the 27-year-old player seemed bigger than the final result: a player who had grown accustomed to being close to the trophy, then found his way to it three consecutive times in finals.

The sixth breaks the curse

The turning point came in Mallorca on June 27, when Fokina defeated American Ethan Quinn in straight sets to win his first title on the ATP Tour.

That was his sixth final, following five unsuccessful attempts, including the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters final.

This time, the journey concluded on Spanish soil. After years of reaching finals that felt incomplete, Fokina finally had a title to build upon.

However, the season didn’t turn into a series of easy victories; a back injury forced another break, returning him to waiting, this time to get back on the court.

Two months out of competition

Fokina was absent for two months before returning at the Chengdu Open in late September. In his first tournament back, he won the title.

According to statements reported by Reuters, staying at home during his injury was difficult, but his team continued to support and encourage him, believing in his ability to achieve remarkable results.

The return was not just about regaining match rhythm; it ended with a second trophy, paving the way for a bigger test in Shanghai, one of the ATP Masters 1000 events.

The final starts from the toughest place

Against his compatriot Rafael Cuadar on Sunday, October 18, Fokina lost the first set 1-6. He then fell behind with a break in the second set, forcing him to change the course of the match to stay in it.

He regained his balance, clinching the second set in a tiebreak before winning the third set 6-4, finishing the match after two hours and 28 minutes.

That was not the only escape from defeat during the tournament; he saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe in the third round and turned around a set deficit against Hubert Hurkacz and Alexander Zverev on his way to the final.

Thus, his biggest titles came through matches where he had to seek new opportunities after his opponents seemed closer to victory.

The trophy carries other names

After the victory, Fokina expressed a sense of relief and reiterated his gratitude to his team, who supported him during injuries and absences.

He also noted that the strong return of his French friend Arthur Fils after a long absence from tournaments motivated him to believe he could do the same.

With the Shanghai title, the transformation from five losses in his first five finals to winning the next three finals was complete.

The injury did not disappear from the season's story, nor were the previous defeats erased. But it no longer marked the end: the player who waited seven years to lift a trophy finished his journey in China holding his third.