Few people on this planet are lucky enough to be able to say they have set foot on every continent. Thanks to tennis, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina is one of them, and at 25 years of age, there are still plenty of places for the Spaniard to discover as he pursues his dream of becoming one of the best players on the ATP Tour.
This week, he is competing at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC for the first time. So far it has been a dream debut; he is in the semi-finals having left the Italian Mattia Bellucci, American Frances Tiafoe and Mexico’s own Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez in his wake.
Before taking to the court on Friday to aim for a place in his first ATP 500 championship match, the No. 48 in the PIF ATP Rankings spoke about his nomadic life and some of his best travel stories.
Which non-tennis related things do you always pack when you travel?
My iPad is essential for keeping myself entertained. Sometimes I take my console too. I really like playing online FIFA.
Do you take long to pack?
No time at all. In half an hour I have everything done because I always take the same things.
Have you ever forgotten to pack anything important?
Yes, of course. Once for Australia I forgot my shoes for tennis, and for the US Open I forgot all my shirts. A friend had to come the next day both times. It was a different friend each time. I had to call them and say: ‘Hey, come here and bring all the things I’ve left at home.’ They’re friends who are like family so I was also delighted that they came.
Your favourite city on the ATP Tour?
I’d say Monte Carlo. It’s very beautiful. Because of how easy they make things for us, the club, the hotel, the location, it’s a pretty comfortable place for the players. I love playing there.
What’s your favourite holiday destination?
The Maldives. I love it. You can completely disconnect. It’s true that the first time I went [in 2023], I wanted to leave on the fifth day, but those first four days not doing anything, being with my partner and completely forgetting about the outside world because nothing else exists really relaxes your mind.
How do you deal with jet lag?
My body is used to these journeys now. Mentally you already know what’s going to happen, so you’re more relaxed about it. Maybe when you’re starting on tour it’s more difficult, you’re more tense, you want to sleep and you try to force yourself to. Later, it’s different. You listen to your body and sleep when it wants to. When I get to a tournament, I do a lot of mobility exercises because your back can get stiff on long trips. But not much more.
When you’re on Tour, do you do anything to make yourself feel at home?
I try to have the biggest room, or to rent an apartment or home. Above all, on the long swings you’re definitely better with something like that. A sofa, a television, a living room, and not just a bedroom.
Do you like to arrive at the airport with plenty of time or do you cut it fine?
In Europe I’m really relaxed and I cut it fine. I don’t go three hours before. But for long flights where you have to go through security I do leave a long time.
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