Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, the 2026 Shanghai Masters champion, opens up about the pressure that nearly made him quit tennis, leaving his longtime coaching setup, and the difficult decision to take control of his own career.
After winning junior Wimbledon, Alejandro struggled with expectations and self-doubt. Years later, despite establishing himself on the ATP Tour, he felt he had little say in the decisions shaping his professional life.
In this honest conversation with former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia and Borja Durán, Alejandro reveals what led him to leave his familiar environment after more than a decade, move from Málaga to Monaco, and rebuild his team from scratch.
He reflects on one of the toughest periods of his career, how his wife helped him see things differently, and why finding happiness and independence away from tennis contributed to his best season in 2025.
From managing anxiety and emotions on court to dealing with public expectations, choosing the right coaches, and learning that tennis isn't everything, this episode explores the personal side of professional tennis that fans rarely get to see.
What happens when a professional athlete finally takes control of his own career?
00:00 The pressure that almost made Alejandro quit tennis
00:45 How Alejandro started tennis with his father
02:10 Winning junior Wimbledon — and nearly quitting
03:50 Breaking into the ATP Top 100
05:45 Battling anxiety and emotions on court
07:20 How routines changed his mentality
09:20 Marriage, happiness and finding balance outside tennis
11:55 Why being obsessed with tennis can hurt your performance
14:25 Why Alejandro deleted social media
16:45 "I had no voice" — the truth about his former team
18:50 Leaving Málaga for Monaco and starting over
20:10 Rebuilding his team and finding success in 2025
22:10 Caroline Garcia shares her own experience
24:00 How taking control transformed Alejandro's confidence
27:10 Why he wanted coaches who had competed at the highest level
30:40 His advice to his younger self
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1SDHHtfQmUS0TyP8wqJEh9
Apple Podcasts:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tennis-insider-club/id1721351881
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Alejandro believes that taking control of his decisions and surrounding himself with the right people helped transform his career.
What do you think matters most for an athlete's success: the right coach, mental confidence, or happiness outside the sport?
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