Alex de Minaur consoles weeping opponent as Katie Boulter makes emotional comment

Alex de Minaur conjured a touching moment of sportsmanship after denying Alejandro Davidovich Fokina his first ATP Tour title in unbelievable circumstances. Davidovich Fokina had three championship points to finally get off the mark at the Citi Open on Sunday but he couldn't close it out against an Australian opponent who refused to give in.

De Minaur dominated the second set after losing the first, but the pendulum swung back towards Davidovich Fokina in the deciding third, and the Spaniard looked to be powering towards the biggest tournament win of his career at 5-3 up. A marathon battle at deuce followed as Davidovich Fokina attempted to serve out for the match, but all three of the points he had to win it went the way of the seventh seed, who produced a staggering comeback to win 5-7 6-1 7-6.

Emotional scenes unfolded in the aftermath as Davidovich Fokina broke down in tears, with De Minaur going over to console him. The Aussie put a hand on each shoulder of his defeated opponent and offered some words of encouragement, which were backed up by a sportsmanlike post-match interview.

"Alejandro, you're way too good not to have one of these [titles], it's coming for sure," said De Minaur. "You deserved it today, I just got lucky.

"You are a hell of a competitor, a hell of a player. No one on the tour wants to play you. And this is not the end, this is only going on for you."

British tennis star Katie Boulter wrote a heartfelt message to fiancee De Minaur on her Instagram story off the back of his staggering victory and touching post-match moment. "No words, pure madness," she said. "The man you are, the champion you are. I'm in awe."

Davidovich Fokina, who has shot up to a career-high ranking of No.19, appreciated De Minaur's kind gesture and credited the world No.8 when reflecting on an incredible contest.

"He deserved the win," said the 26-year-old. "He was fighting for every ball, he was always pushing me through my limits.

"[My team and I] had a job to do before we started the year, to be at the middle of the year in the top 20. This week we did it, just not with the trophy. But for sure, we will keep going, pushing our limits, pushing harder."