Star Spanish player Alejandro Davidovich Fokina has accused his coach of abandoning him between matches.
The No.21 seed was beaten in the second round of the French Open by Argentinian Thiago Agustin Tirante in four sets on Thursday.
After the match, he was asked by reporters about suggestions he had fired his coach Mariano Puerta, following a heated argument the pair had during the first round.
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Davidovich Fokina said; “we didn’t fight. Everything was normal”, adding that the pair went to lunch afterwards.
Once the Spaniard disappeared to cool down, that’s when Puerta seemingly made his exit.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina frustrated with his performance during the French Open. Getty
“He said he was feeling bad and was going to the hotel,” the player continued.
Later that day, Davidovich Fokina said he received another text from Puerta saying he “would not continue”.
“He didn’t say anything to anybody, to the team, he just took the flight and he flew to Miami without saying a word to us,” Davidovich Fokina said.
“My wife even called [him] on the telephone, me too, so I don’t know.
“He goes on with his life and I with mine. If he acts like this at 45 years old, well, they’re his decisions.
“I don’t wish him badly. I hope things go well if he starts working with another player,” Davidovich Fokina added, indicating the working relationship was beyond repair.
“After this they will know to take care and even better that he will abandon them in the worst moment.”
The pair had only begun working together in January. The fiery 26-year-old split with his previous coach Felix Mantilla after a disappointing 2025.
Puerta won three ATP Tour titles as a player in the early 2000s, but was banned twice for doping offences.
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Mariano Puerta in 2025. Getty
The Argentinian made the French Open final in 2005, but tested positive for a performance enhancing substance shortly after.
Puerta spoke highly of Davidovich Fokina in April when asked about him by a Spanish news outlet, but hinted that the star needs to work on his mentality during games.
“Tremendous player, tremendous potential. Whatever you tell him on the court, he is able to do it, like a sponge. He pays a lot of attention, he listens, not everyone does that. He really tries to do what you’re telling him, so we have understood each other quite well in a short time,” he said.
“The potential he has is impressive, the physical attributes he possesses… but tennis is a combination of three departments: tennis, physical, and mental. In tennis and physically, he is outstanding, while mentally, it’s not bad, but it can be improved. If we manage to improve a bit there, it will have a great impact on his tennis and his career.”
He had previously been coaching American player Brandon Nakashima, but the pair parted ways in 2025.