Davidovich dances with drama but will be in the quarterfinals

Streaming Challenger Oeiras live tennis

🎾 Alejandro M Canas vs Henrique Rocha

* You can watch and bet on this match live here..

The day at Court Rainier III could not have started better for Spanish tennis. Our Alejandro Davidovich, one of the clearest threats when it comes to the Masters 1000 in Montecarlo week, took a significant step forward in his candidacy by defeating Jack Draper in three sets on Thursday (6-3, 6-7, 6-4), securing a spot in the quarterfinals of the event. Not bad considering he had already eliminated someone named Ben Shelton and someone named Tomás Martín Etcheverry along the way, challenges he managed with great skill, although this time he had to endure quite a bit. Now he will face Popyrin or Ruud in the next round, where, regardless of the outcome, the important thing is that Foki is walking with a sharp competitive instinct today.

Analyzing the match-up objectively, it was easy to think of a comfortable victory for the player who is already established as a clay-court specialist, the one who enjoys the rallies the most, the heights, the place, in short, the one who narrowly missed lifting the trophy here three seasons ago. We're talking about Alejandro Davidovich, a rejuvenated man in 2025 capable of showing the consistency he has long pursued. The problem was that he was up against the current World No. 6, a recent winner of a Masters 1000 title less than a month ago, although with a very clear issue on clay. That was the theory, now it needed to be confirmed.

With a 2-0 lead for the Spaniard, many of us felt satisfied seeing the prediction going well, though it was not time to get carried away. Draper, a tennis enthusiast who thrives on challenges, is bound to do very interesting things on every surface, including the slower ones. His drive to perform well is evident, but this time his left-handedness did not seem to trouble his opponent. Once the rally exceeded 9 strokes, we all knew how it was going to end, although Davidovich pleased himself occasionally by finishing points in just three strikes. After more breaks than desired, Félix Mantilla's protégé finally sealed the 6-3 win in 43 minutes to boost his confidence.

THE MESS BEGINS

Second set, an early break, and for the first time, the danger of thinking that the job was done crept into the minds. Davidovich thought it, and so did we when he was a point away from securing a 4-1 lead. But it did not happen, a missed opportunity that would later haunt. With nothing to lose, shedding all pressure, Draper started playing much tougher but without losing his fervor. Quite the opposite for Alejandro, more negative, constantly at odds with his coach, yet still maintaining control of the match. It was painful to see them both reach a tiebreak, where the Spaniard had a set point that his opponent immediately erased with a great serve. A minute later, Jack would capitalize, taking the battle to a third set.

And of course, the audience was delighted to see this battle extend, although some were a bit anxious about having to wait a bit longer for the start of Alcaraz-Altmaier. Relax, there's no rush to finish the report. After a six-minute toilette break, Davidovich returned to the court to replay the scene once again. How did the first set start? And the second? And the tiebreak of the second? Exactly, with a break by the Spaniard, and this pattern did not change in the third set. The issue arose afterward, in terms of safeguarding it. From 3-1 to 3-3, with the match completely open, much like the minds of its protagonists. Drama? Certainly, but this time on the neighbor's terrace. Alejandro, now without Mantilla by his side—where did he go?—gritted his teeth to make the crucial move at 4-5, the most critical moment. Hard-fought, full of suffering, and scarcely celebrated. With tears in his eyes, Davidovich advanced to the quarterfinals.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Davidovich baila con el drama pero estará en cuartos