Alejandro Davidovich Fokina exited the ATP Tokio 2026 tournament on October 1, 2026, falling to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini by scores of 1-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 in a hard-fought first-round match at the Japan Open Tennis Championships.
The defeat ends hopes of an all-Spanish second-round showdown in Tokyo, as Rafa Jódar also exited the tournament earlier in the day after being overwhelmed by Daniel Vallejo.
How the Match Unfolded in Tokyo
Europa Press detailed the progression of the two-hour and 20-minute encounter on the hard courts. Davidovich started the match in dominant fashion, sweeping the opening set 6-1 by converting two service breaks while cleanly holding all of his own service games.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Both players held serve through a tight 6-6 deadlock before Berrettini overwhelmed the Spaniard in the tiebreak, taking it 7-1 to level the match. Berrettini had begun the deciding tiebreak set with a 3-0 lead that he did not relinquish.
In the deciding third set, Berrettini secured two crucial breaks of serve against Davidovich. Although the Spaniard managed one break in return, the Italian closed out the set 6-4 to seal his advancement to the round of 16.
Travel Fatigue and the Quick Turnaround from Chengdu
Over 3,000 kilometers separate Chengdu, China, from Tokyo, Japan, creating a demanding logistical hurdle for players transitioning between the events. Casasdeapuestas.com noted that Davidovich arrived in Tokyo riding a wave of high confidence after capturing his second career ATP title in Chengdu—marking his second title of the 2026 season—where he defeated Hubert Hurkacz in the final while conceding only a single set during the tournament.
However, that success came at a physical cost. Davidovich was given less than 48 hours to recover between his triumph on Tuesday in Chengdu and his opening match in Tokyo.
Match Statistics Show Fine Margins for Davidovich
Match statistics from Europa Press illustrate the fine margins of the contest. Davidovich recorded a 68% first-serve percentage and won 68% of his points on initial serves.
Berrettini entered the tournament having won 20 of his 37 matches during the 2026 season while remaining inside the top 50 of the ATP rankings, according to Casasdeapuestas.com data, though he had spent a month without competing prior to the match and was carrying a two-year drought without a tournament trophy. For Davidovich, the opening-round exit marks a temporary halt after a resilient season highlighted by his recent title run and a successful return from a 72-day injury layoff, having won 14 of his first 17 opening-round matches this year.
Looking Ahead to the Masters 1000 in Shanghai
Following his departure from the Japan Open, Davidovich will receive a scheduled week of rest to recover from his heavy workload in Asia before turning his attention to the Shanghai Masters 1000.
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