Australia's Alex De Minaur saved three match points on his way to a battling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to clinch the ATP Tour DC Open crown on Sunday.&nbsp;Seventh seed De Minaur looked to be heading for defeat against his 12th-seeded Spanish opponent after trailing 5-2 in the deciding set in Washington.&nbsp;But Davidovich Fokina -- chasing the first ATP title of his career after losing in three previous final appearances -- failed to capitalise on his hefty lead.&nbsp;The Spaniard appeared to tighten when serving for the match at 5-3 up to allow De Minaur to claw it back to 5-4.&nbsp;But Davidovich Fokina responded to that missed opportunity by then earning three match points on De Minaur's serve in the next game.&nbsp;Yet once again, the Spaniard was unable to take advantage and De Minaur survived to hold serve and level the match at 5-5.&nbsp;The next two games went on serve to set up the tie break and De Minaur was quickly in control, sealing victory on the first of three match points with an ace, to settle a 3hr 2mins slugfest.&nbsp;De Minaur said he had never doubted his ability to turn around the final.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-watch-stokes-refuses-to-shake-jadeja-s-hand-as-tempers-flare-after-manchester-test-ends-in-stalemate-1753672370669">Watch: Stokes refuses to shake Jadeja's hand as tempers flare after Manchester Test ends in stalemate</a>&nbsp;"I just kind of knew I could do it," De Minaur said in his on-court interview. "I just backed myself to commit no matter what, and if I lost this match, it was going to be on my terms.&nbsp;"I've had a couple of brutal ones not go go my way, so I'm glad this one went my way," the 26-year-old from New South Wales said.&nbsp;The win was another agonizing setback for Davidovich Fokina, who had already reached -- and lost -- two other finals this season.&nbsp;The defeat echoed his loss in the final at Delray Beach in February, when he was unable to convert two match points before losing to Miomir Kecmanovic.&nbsp;"Congratulations to Alex, he deserved the win," Davidovich Fokina said. "He was fighting for every ball. He always pushed me to my limits."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Seventh seed Alex De Minaur looked to be heading for defeat against his 12th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after trailing 5-2 in the deciding set in Washington.

Australia's Alex De Minaur saved three match points on his way to a battling 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to clinch the ATP Tour DC Open crown on Sunday. Seventh seed De Minaur looked to be heading for defeat against his 12th-seeded Spanish opponent after trailing 5-2 in the deciding set in Washington. But Davidovich Fokina -- chasing the first ATP title of his career after losing in three previous final appearances -- failed to capitalise on his hefty lead. The Spaniard appeared to tighten when serving for the match at 5-3 up to allow De Minaur to claw it back to 5-4. But Davidovich Fokina responded to that missed opportunity by then earning three match points on De Minaur's serve in the next game. Yet once again, the Spaniard was unable to take advantage and De Minaur survived to hold serve and level the match at 5-5. The next two games went on serve to set up the tie break and De Minaur was quickly in control, sealing victory on the first of three match points with an ace, to settle a 3hr 2mins slugfest. De Minaur said he had never doubted his ability to turn around the final. ALSO READ | Watch: Stokes refuses to shake Jadeja's hand as tempers flare after Manchester Test ends in stalemate "I just kind of knew I could do it," De Minaur said in his on-court interview. "I just backed myself to commit no matter what, and if I lost this match, it was going to be on my terms. "I've had a couple of brutal ones not go go my way, so I'm glad this one went my way," the 26-year-old from New South Wales said. The win was another agonizing setback for Davidovich Fokina, who had already reached -- and lost -- two other finals this season. The defeat echoed his loss in the final at Delray Beach in February, when he was unable to convert two match points before losing to Miomir Kecmanovic. "Congratulations to Alex, he deserved the win," Davidovich Fokina said. "He was fighting for every ball. He always pushed me to my limits." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Seventh seed Alex De Minaur looked to be heading for defeat against his 12th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after trailing 5-2 in the deciding set in Washington.

Australia's Alex De Minaur saves three match points to clinch DC Open crown

Novak Djokovic said he felt drained of energy towards the end of his loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, admitting that the defeat was almost inevitable going into the final set.

Playing in his fourth match of the season after he was denied a chance to defend his Australian Open title in January due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19, Djokovic was broken nine times and made 51 unforced errors in a 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 defeat by the Spaniard.

"I`m disappointed. No one likes to lose. We`re professional athletes. This is what we do. We go out on the court to compete and try to win against each other," Djokovic, who has triumphed in Monaco twice, told reporters.

"I didn`t like the way I felt physically in the third set. I just ran out of the gas completely. Just couldn`t really stay in the rally with him. If you can`t stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it`s mission impossible.

"So I don`t like that feeling I experienced in the third set but I`m going to look with my team into reasons why that was the case and go back to the drawing board and hopefully next week will be better in Belgrade."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/samuel-chukwuezes-late-equaliser-helps-villarreal-shock-bayern-munich-to-reach-champions-league-semis-470711">Samuel Chukwueze's late equaliser helps Villarreal shock Bayern Munich to reach Champions League semis</a>

Djokovic said he hoped to build his form for the French Open starting next month, where he will defend his crown.

"That`s the big goal of the clay season," Djokovic said. "I knew a few days ago when I spoke to you... that it`s going to take time for me to really feel my best on the clay.

"That`s historically always been the case. Never played very well in the opening tournaments of the clay season. But it`s OK... I have to accept the defeat and keep working."

Novak Djokovic said he felt drained of energy towards the end of his loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, admitting that the defeat was almost inevitable going into the final set.

Novak Djokovic said he felt drained of energy towards the end of his loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters on Tuesday, admitting that the defeat was almost inevitable going into the final set. Playing in his fourth match of the season after he was denied a chance to defend his Australian Open title in January due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19, Djokovic was broken nine times and made 51 unforced errors in a 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 defeat by the Spaniard. "I`m disappointed. No one likes to lose. We`re professional athletes. This is what we do. We go out on the court to compete and try to win against each other," Djokovic, who has triumphed in Monaco twice, told reporters. "I didn`t like the way I felt physically in the third set. I just ran out of the gas completely. Just couldn`t really stay in the rally with him. If you can`t stay in the rally, not feeling your legs on the clay, it`s mission impossible. "So I don`t like that feeling I experienced in the third set but I`m going to look with my team into reasons why that was the case and go back to the drawing board and hopefully next week will be better in Belgrade." Also Read: Samuel Chukwueze's late equaliser helps Villarreal shock Bayern Munich to reach Champions League semis Djokovic said he hoped to build his form for the French Open starting next month, where he will defend his crown. "That`s the big goal of the clay season," Djokovic said. "I knew a few days ago when I spoke to you... that it`s going to take time for me to really feel my best on the clay. "That`s historically always been the case. Never played very well in the opening tournaments of the clay season. But it`s OK... I have to accept the defeat and keep working."

Novak Djokovic says he ran out of gas in defeat against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Monte Carlo Masters

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Australia's Alex De Minaur saves three match points to clinch DC Open crown

Novak Djokovic says he ran out of gas in defeat against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina at Monte Carlo Masters