Alejandro Davidovich, the Spaniard from Malaga, defeated Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets on Friday to advance to the first semifinal of the season. In the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, Canada, the win lifted Davidovich to the 23rd spot in the ATP rankings, marking the best position of his career on the tour.
Davidovich claimed victory over McDonald 6-4 and 6-2 in just over an hour and a half, becoming the first player to reach the Toronto semi finals. The post-quarterfinals setup will feature a clash for a place in the final between the second-seeded Daniil Medvedev from Russia and Australia’s Alex de Minaur, with the winner earning the right to face the Spaniard in the final four.
The only prior meeting between the two had taken place in Stockholm in 2021, where Davidovich proved the stronger competitor and already held a win over McDonald. In the opening set, the Spaniard weathered a rough start after losing his first serve, ultimately sealing it 6-4 with crucial breaks in the third and ninth games that shifted momentum his way.
In the following set, the Malaga native broke McDonald’s serve twice and pulled away early. The American, showing resilience, mounted a brief revival with a time out in the fourth game, but Davidovich steadied and closed out the match by converting his third championship point at 6-2. The result also reflected a surge in Davidovich’s ranking, as he moved into the 23rd position globally and pressed toward the top tier of the ATP and a potential climb toward the top 20 in the coming weeks.
As the Toronto event progressed, Davidovich’s performance underscored his rising trajectory on hard courts and in Masters 1000 competition. The outcome positioned him as one of the notable performers of the season so far, signaling that his consistency and adaptability on the court are translating into significant ranking gains and more frequent deep runs in major events. Observers and fans alike noted the Spaniard’s solid return game, baseline solidity, and the ability to seize control during pivotal moments, all of which contributed to this important semifinal appearance and the momentum heading into the rest of the calendar.
With the quarterfinal triumph in the books, the focus shifts to the upcoming matchups and the path ahead for Davidovich. If the Toronto success is sustained, the player could be poised for continued breakthroughs at Masters events and beyond. Meanwhile, McDonald’s strong showing in this tournament serves as a reminder of his resilience and ability to challenge higher-ranked opponents on big stages, making the road to further progress for both players an intriguing storyline for the remainder of the season.