Davidovich, semifinalist in Shanghai: “It’s a long and hard story to tell, I kept playing even though I shouldn’t have”

“I’m, huh.” “Expecting”. These are two of the messages that the Spanish Alexander Davidovich has been sent publicly through television cameras, in the signature reserved for the winners of each match of the Masters 1000 ATP tournaments. And he has already had a few in Shanghai, this Saturday he will play one of the semifinals against the German Alexander Zverev.

Davidovich, 27 years old and world number 26, claiming himself, perhaps thinking about the Davis Cup, in a call from the still captain David Ferrerwho will leave office after this season’s Final 8 in Bologna, from November 24 to 29.

Also warning that he is back on the circuit, after a difficult time, two months off, and his absence from the North American summer tour. He has come back strong in Asia, where he was already champion of the ATP 250 tournament in Chengdu, his second title after that in Mallorca, breaking his losing streak in finals.

He had a strong breakup in the middle of Roland Garros with the Argentine coach Mariano Puertahis relationship with the Madrid coach strengthened José ‘Pepo’ Clavetwhich in principle should only be a complement to the team for the grass tour. They stay together.

His experience on the pitch was brief, without continuity. He explained everything that happened in Shanghai, after signing his ticket to the semifinals after the Frenchman’s withdrawal Arthur Gea with 4-1.

“It’s a long story to tell. After Wimbledon – specifically in the first match – I had back problems. I continued playing the tournament, even though I shouldn’t have; I was playing very well and I didn’t want to retire.”

He forced and complicated the matter. “Then I had an MRI and it turned out that I have a protrusion, almost a hernia, so I had to take it easy. I played in Umag, but my back didn’t do well at all. After that, we decided to stop to recover properly,” he recalls.

Neither Cincinnati nor US Open, focusing on recovery. “I spent three weeks without playing tennis, dedicating myself only to strengthening my core and abdominals because of the back issue.”

He had a hard time “mentally. It was hard, I wanted to play the American tour, I enjoy it a lot. But my back was not ready. And yes, it was very difficult mentally to see how others advanced to the final rounds while I was at home watching.”

He found comfort in his wife and his team. “Spending two months at home was very good—with my wife, with the dog, with the team—but I wanted to play. A friend of mine had a similar problem, he helped me manage the situation and stay calm,” says the man from Malaga.

He came right back by capturing the title in Chengdu, which was followed by an early defeat in Tokyo and another good result in Shanghai. Since her reappearance she has won 8 of 9 matches, facing marathons this week against Frances Tiafoe, coming back from match ball, and Hubert Hurkacz. Screaming loudly Alex Davidovich is back.

Number 26 in the ranking, so far it has already ensured that it rises eight places, up to eighteenth place. Not even by winning the tournament could he equal his best historical position in the ranking, fourteenth. Although due to conditions he has always been a top-10 contender, since he already shone in juniors, a category in which he reigned at Wimbledon.