Spanish tennis player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina recently spoke about his choice to use the underarm serve during a crucial moment in his third-round match against Holger Rune at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
In a thrilling five-set battle on July 9, Rune emerged victorious with a score line of 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(10-8), after an intense contest lasting nearly four hours. The 20-year-old Dane displayed remarkable resilience by saving two match points and overcoming a 5-8 deficit in the fifth-set tiebreak to advance to the fourth round.
Real reason why Alejandro Davidovich Fokina does it?
A pivotal moment occurred at 8-8 in the deciding tiebreak when Alejandro Davidovich Fokina surprised Rune with an underarm serve. However, his tactical move backfired as the World No. 6 swiftly responded with a return winner. Fokina’s decision to employ the underarm serve ultimately proved costly, as Holger Rune went on to serve out the match on the following point. After his defeat, Fokina acknowledged the situation and admitted to feeling nervous during that crucial point.
“I have to accept what happened. I sh*t myself and I did not want to play that point (translated from Spanish). I cannot explain what is going through my mind there in that moment because a lot of things are going through your mind, everybody is shouting and you are nervous. Yeah, that was crazy. That was very unexpected, for sure. I don’t know,” Rune said.
“In a way, it was nice, because he was serving really well during the match. But also, you know, it’s pressure, because imagine I missed that one. That would feel awful. No. No, I wouldn’t do it. But again, every player has a different style. You know, I mean, if he made it, it would have been the right shot,” he added.
From Alejandro Davidovich Fokina‘ statement, it seems he acknowledged the impact of the crucial moment and expressed that he felt nervous and overwhelmed. He admitted that he was not mentally prepared for that point and perhaps made a hasty decision. The pressure of the situation and the crowd’s reactions may have contributed to his choice to employ the underarm serve. His comment about not wanting to play that point suggests that he may have lacked confidence in his ability to execute a conventional serve effectively in such a high-pressure moment.
On the other hand, Rune’s response highlights the unexpected nature of Fokina’s underarm serve. He mentioned that it was a surprising move since Fokina had been serving well throughout the match. While Rune acknowledged the pressure he felt to respond to the underarm serve, he also recognized the potential advantage it could have given Alejandro Davidovich Fokina if executed successfully.
Holger Rune further mentioned that he personally wouldn’t have chosen to employ the underarm serve in that situation. This statement implies that players have different playing styles and strategies. He acknowledged that if Alejandro Davidovich Fokina had successfully executed the shot, it would have been considered a good decision. This reflects the understanding that tennis involves taking calculated risks and players must trust their instincts in critical moments.
Fokina’s decision to use the underarm serve surprised Rune and created a high-pressure situation for both players. Fokina admitted feeling nervous and not wanting to play that point, while Rune acknowledged the potential risks and rewards associated with such an unconventional shot. Tennis is a mentally and emotionally demanding sport, and players’ decisions can be influenced by a variety of factors in crucial moments.
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