Alejandro Davidovich Fokina commits to mismatched sock bit through Wimbledon stunner

There are a few things one has just come to expect from an Alejandro Davidovich Fokina match: dramatic scorelines, numerous dives and tumbles, and two distinctly different socks.

The enigmatic Spaniard, who earned a career-high ranking of No. 27 earlier this spring, explained the superstition in the midst of a breakthrough performance in Monte Carlo, where he reached his first Masters 1000 final.

“It's like superstition, you know,” he said after his runner-up finish to Stefanos Tsitsipas. “If you see me one day with two black socks or two white socks, it's not me. It's my brother!”

Where no rule prevents Davidovich Fokina from committing to the bit at most tournaments, he was already concerned how to maintain the off-beat fashion trend at Wimbledon given its stricter dress code.

“I have a little problem there,” he said. “We are thinking what to do.”

We saw a DIY solution in action at the All England Club on Monday against No. 7 seed Hubert Hurkacz: rather than risk a colorful second sock, Foki opted for some strategically placed tape that simply rendered one sock whiter than the other.

And there may have been some magic in that tape: despite a near collapse from two sets and triple match point up, Davidovich Fokina weathered a literal and figurative storm from the 2021 Wimbledon semifinalist, 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (8) to earn his first main-draw victory at SW19.

While clay-court success has defined his pro career, having reached the 2021 Roland Garros quarterfinals in addition to his Monte Carlo run, Foki is but five years removed from his junior Wimbledon triumph from 2017.

With Jiri Vesely standing between the 23-year-old and the third round, he could keep this surprise run going—provided his tape holds.