Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina says his coach “abandoned” him midway through his French Open campaign and flew to Miami without saying a word.
The 21st seed was asked in a news conference about reports on France TV that he fired his coach, Mariano Puerta, after an argument following his first-round victory over Damir Dzumhur.
“We didn’t fight. Everything was normal,” Davidovich Fokina, who lost to Thiago Agustin Tirante in the second round on Wednesday, said.
“After the match against Dzumhur we had lunch and after that I went to cool down.
“He said he was feeling bad and was going to the hotel.”
Davidovich Fokina said he received a text message a few hours later from Puerta – runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2005 – which said 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.”
