Alejandro Davidovich Fokina's Coach Resigns Via Text Mid-Tournament
"I thought he was a very good person. It was my fault to hire him."
– Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
In a stunning act of desertion, Mariano Puerta, coach of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, resigned during the French Open by sending a text message—leaving his player without any prior notice or explanation.
According to reports, Puerta told Davidovich Fokina he felt unwell shortly after lunch. He then left the hotel and, hours later, messaged the player to say he would not continue. Puerta did not inform any other coaching staff before flying to Miami.
The disruption came at a critical moment. On Wednesday, Davidovich Fokina lost his second-round match to Thiago Agustín Tirante with a score of 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-3.
Background
Puerta, a former French Open runner-up, has a long history of controversy.
During his playing career, he served two doping suspensions. After the 2005 French Open final, he tested positive for etilefrine and was initially suspended for eight years—a penalty later reduced to two by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. In 2020, he admitted to lying about the source of the drug, originally claiming it came from his wife's medication but later stating it was from ginseng and caffeine pills given by a friend. He also tested positive for an anabolic steroid in 2003. Puerta retired from professional tennis in 2009.
Other Matches
In other action at the French Open, Novak Djokovic defeated local favorite Valentin Royer 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (7), 6-3 in the second round.