Alejandro Davidovich Fokina breaks silence after Auger-Aliassime “disgrace” rant: “I don’t control some movements”
ATP
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has offered his first public explanation following the controversy that overshadowed his Wimbledon fourth-round defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime, insisting the ankle injury that prompted his mid-match medical timeout was neither new nor unexpected.
The Spaniard found himself at the centre of one of the Championships' biggest talking points after rolling his ankle while trailing 4-5 in the fourth set. With Auger-Aliassime serving for the match and holding two match points, Davidovich Fokina collapsed to the grass and received treatment before play resumed, eventually helping force a deciding set.
The interruption dramatically changed the momentum of the match. Auger-Aliassime failed to convert his opportunity, lost the fourth set in a tie-break, but recovered strongly to seal a 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1 victory and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. After the match, the Canadian criticised both the rule and, indirectly, his opponent, saying players could exploit the current medical timeout protocol.
Speaking a day later to Movistar Plus, Davidovich Fokina chose not to respond directly to Auger-Aliassime's criticism. Instead, he focused on explaining the physical issue that led to the stoppage. Despite the defeat, the Spaniard will climb three places in the ATP Rankings to World No. 20, continuing the strong season that has returned him to the Top 20.
"I've been taking Voltaren every day": Davidovich reveals long-term ankle problem
Rather than entering the debate surrounding the medical timeout, Davidovich Fokina explained that the injury has been affecting him for weeks, dating back to before the grass-court season even began.
"This all started before Stuttgart, when I twisted my ankle training in Monte Carlo," the Spaniard No. 2 said. "It's something we're dealing with every day. I haven't even had time to rest for three consecutive days."
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina goes for overhead smash.
The Spaniard then detailed exactly what happened during the crucial moment late in the fourth set, revealing the pain was familiar rather than the result of a completely new injury.
"I've had to deal with it, Voltaren every day... now I'll have an MRI, but it was just one movement. When I slid, my foot turned inwards. That's the only movement that causes it, and that's what happened today. I can't control certain movements, so when my foot goes like that, I see stars for 30 or 40 seconds. Then the pain goes away. I don't have pain afterwards. It's something I'll look into from tomorrow."
His explanation suggests the treatment was necessary to recover from an acute episode of an ongoing injury rather than an isolated incident that emerged during the match.
Auger-Aliassime called for rule changes after dramatic finish
The controversy escalated after Auger-Aliassime's post-match press conference, where the Canadian argued the current Grand Slam medical rules should be revised, believing the timing of treatment unfairly disrupted players serving for matches.
"As long as the rule is like that, players will use it to their advantage," the world No. 4 said. "To stop in the middle of an opponent's service game and be able to call the physio, I think that's a disgrace of a rule. I don't see any other sport where you can do that."
When asked directly whether Davidovich Fokina had taken advantage of the situation, Auger-Aliassime left little room for interpretation. "He took advantage — yeah, he took advantage. You can play with words, but he took advantage. To the max!"
The tense atmosphere carried through to the handshake at the net, where both players exchanged words before leaving Centre Court. Davidovich Fokina has so far declined to address that exchange publicly, instead choosing to clarify the medical circumstances behind the incident that defined one of the most controversial matches of Wimbledon 2026.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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