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The task was always going to be tough for the Australian against a man who made the 2022 final in Monte Carlo.

It was Davidovich Fokina's 18th win of 2025 on the ATP Tour, already matching the total number of victories he recorded last season.

"I've improved as a person, my maturity," Davidovich Fokina said after his win.

"When you can control [things] off the court, it's going to be easier to control your emotions [on the court]. Today it has proved [the progress] I am making this year."

Davidovich Fokina is yet to win a title on the ATP Tour, but he is a two-time finalist in 2025 having made the showpiece at Delray Beach and  Acapulco.

Reaching a third final won't be easy, though, as he faces fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals.