Who is Carlos Alcaraz’s Queen’s Round 1 opponent? Close friend Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Oli Dickson Jefford 16 Jun 2025 2:32 PM

Carlos Alcaraz and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

This article was written and published before Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s withdrawal. Carlos Alcaraz will now face lucky loser Adam Walton in Round 1.

Carlos Alcaraz is back at the Queen’s Club and will look to win the title for the second time after his debut triumph in 2023.

The Spaniard beat Alex de Minaur to lift the title in 2023, though he was stunned by Jack Draper in round-two action in 2024, and will look to regain his title over the next week.

Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open just over a week ago and does not have an easy first match back against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

However, Davidovich Fokina himself faces a quick turnaround of his own heading into round one, and it is fair to say that these are two men who know each other very well.

‘He invited me to his wedding’

Alcaraz and Davidovich Fokina have twice met on the ATP Tour, with the world No 2 claiming victory on both occasions.

The five-time Grand Slam champion beat Davidovich Fokina in the quarter-final of the 2023 Barcelona Open, and again in the last four of the Monte Carlo Masters back in April.

The grass courts of Queen’s will naturally provide a different kind of match to their two previous encounters on the clay, but one dynamic will not change.

Friendship will have to be put aside when the two meet, with the compatriots known to be close off the court.

Asked about his relationship with Davidovich Fokina ahead of their last contest back in April, Alcaraz opened up about just how well the two know each other.

“Yeah, he invited me to his wedding,” said Alcaraz in Monte Carlo. “He’s a friend. We have seen each other for a long time already.

“He used to play with my older brother when they were younger, as well. I know him pretty well. I’ve played against him a few times. [We have] practised a lot.

“So it’s going to be interesting. It’s not gonna be easy, never easy playing against a friend, but, you know, this is tennis. Once you step on the court, there are no friends.”

Many may be watching to see how Alcaraz is faring just over a week on from his dramatic triumph at Roland Garros, saving championship points to beat Jannik Sinner in an instant classic.

The 22-year-old has famously spent time on holiday in Ibiza since his triumph, and has only been back hitting at Queen’s since Saturday.

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However, Davidovich Fokina has also not been hitting too many tennis balls lately, with the 26-year-old holding his wedding this past weekend.

The world No 28 tied the knot with partner Paloma Amatiste on Saturday, just three days before his opening grass-court match of 2025.

Alcaraz was unable to attend the wedding due to his pre-Queen’s preparation, though he evidently won’t be the only player in this match-up who will be re-adjusting back to life as a professional tennis player.

The top seed and Davidovich Fokina will take to the court on Tuesday for their opening-round match, with the winner up against Jordan Thompson or Jaume Munar in the second round.