Adelaide Showdown: Davidovich Fokina and Tommy Paul Reach the Semis
15 January 2026
Adelaide Semifinalists Confirmed
Spanish 26-year-old Alejandro Davidovich Fokina kept alive his quest for a first ATP title at the Adelaide International, carving a steady path toward the semifinals with a strong showing on Thursday.
He outplayed Shanghai champion Valentin Fachiro in a 7-6(3), 6-2 victory, rising to the top seed of the event for the first time in his career as he chases his maiden title on tour.
Speaking about Fachiro, who fired 15 aces according to the ATP Tour website, Fokina said, "I knew his serve was spectacular. I did my best to return it... it felt like playing against (John) Isner. The key was staying focused, and I raised my level with each set."
Paul’s Return and Path to the Semis
In the other half of the draw, fourth seed Tommy Paul delivered another impressive display in Adelaide, defeating Australian Alexander Fukietch (6-3, 6-2) to reach his third semifinal at this 250-point event.
Paul, once ranked world No. 8, had missed the last three months of 2025 with a chronic foot injury and returned last week in Brisbane, where he lost in the first round to a big-serve opponent.
"I’m just happy to be back here. It’s been a long year-end for me, and I’m really glad to return to Australia and play some great tennis. All the tournaments in Australia tend to keep the courts fast, which seems to suit my style," Paul said.
Next Up
Paul will meet Tomas Machac, who beat Gom Monar 6-4, 6-4 to reach his first semifinal since winning his lone ATP title in Acapulco last February. The Czech eighth seed leads their head-to-head 2-1 going into their clash, with Paul winning the most recent encounter in Rome last year.
Meanwhile, Fokina will face the fourth seed, Ugo Humbert, who dispatched Alexander Shevchenko 6-0, 6-3 in 57 minutes to advance to the other semi.
As the Australian crowd roars, the semis promise a fresh chapter in early-season form, with both players chasing a breakthrough on the tour’s 250-point circuit.
Punchline: If patience were a serve, these two would be serving aces all day; in Adelaide, even the replay could use a standing ovation. Punchline 2: They make the scoreboard nervous—every rally feels like a spoiler alert for the next shot.
