Miomir Kecmanovic is an ATP Tour finalist once again. The Serbian advanced to his fifth tour-level title match and first since 2023 on Saturday at the Delray Beach Open, where he defeated American Alex Michelsen 7-6(3), 6-3.
The Serbian recovered from squandering two set points when serving at 6-5 in the first set to eventually win the tie-break, before he saved both break points he faced in the second set, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to advance after 90 minutes in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
“It was a tough match, especially with the wind. It wasn’t easy,” Kecmanovic said. “Obviously, him playing so big, I tried to make him play as much as possible and thankfully he was playing off today.”
Kecmanovic won his lone ATP Tour title in Kitzbühel in 2020, since losing finals in Estoril and Delray Beach in 2023. The 25-year-old will face eighth-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the final.
“It means a lot. I struggled a lot last year and to be in a final again, it’s a special feeling to know that everything you’ve worked for is coming together and paying off,” said Kecmanovic.
Michelsen, 20, was trying to reach his fourth tour-level final. The American is up four spots to No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to rise to a career high on Monday.
Davidovich Fokina earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory against fourth-seeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi in the evening semi-final, which featured shotmaking of the highest quality from both players. Each set featured shifts of momentum, highlighted by three service breaks in both. Yet Davidovich Fokina was more consistent in crucial moments as Arnaldi tallied 38 unforced errors, compared to the Spaniard’s 25.
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“I cannot describe with words how I feel right now,” Davidovich Fokina said. “All the work we’ve put in, my team and I every day, to be in one final again, it’s not easy. I’m very, very happy for this win and I’m ready for tomorrow.”
The 25-year-old, who ended top seed Taylor Fritz’s quest for a Delray Beach three-peat in the quarters, will aim for his first tour-level title. Sunday will mark Davidovich Fokina’s first final appearance since the 2022 ATP Masters 1000 event in Monte-Carlo.
Davidovich Fokina avenged last week’s Dallas loss to Arnaldi, who cruised to a 6-1, 6-3 win at the indoor ATP 500. Following his semi-final victory, the Malaga native improved to 1-2 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Davidovich Fokina has lost both of his previous meetings to Kecmanovic.
