Fabio Fognini, Blaz Kavcic move to the second round of Grand Prix Hassan II
Fabio Fognini ousts Gerard Granollers Pujol 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
World number 52 Fabio Fognini of Italy scored a three set victory against Spanish Gerard Granollers Pujol in the first round at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca on Tuesday. The Italian won the match 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours
and 16 minutes.
Fognini dominated the opening set, breaking his opponent three times to win the set 6-2. The Italian fired in three aces and committed a single double fault in the first set. Fognini had a low first serve percentage as he delivered
just 59 per cent of the first serves, winning 65 per cent of the points on them in the opening set. The 23-year-old converted three of the five break points he received in the first set.
The Italian started the second set by breaking Granollers Pujol in the first game. However, the Spanish broke back in the fourth game to equalize the score at 2-2. Granollers Pujol broke again in the tenth game to win the second
set 6-4.
The Spaniard hit 54 per cent of the first serves, converting 53 per cent of them into points in the second set. Fognini served poorly in the second set, hitting seven double faults and just 30 per cent of the first serves. The
Italian saved three of the five break points he faced in the second set.
In the deciding set, Fognini broke his opponent twice and claimed the set 6-3. Improving his serve, the right-handed fired in 62 per cent of the first serves and won 69 per cent of the points on them in the third set.
Fognini is drawn to meet world number 90 Blaz Kavcic in the second round.
Blaz Kavcic defeats Reda El Amrani 3-4 Retired
Slovakian Blaz Kavcic qualified for the second round as his opening round opponent world number 204 Reda El Amrani of Morocco retired after just seven games. The Moroccan was leading 4-3 when he decided to forfeit the match due
to an injury.
El Amrani raced to a 4-0 lead as he broke Kavcic in the first and third game of the opening set. However, the Moroccan had injured his leg in the fourth game and that injury started to hamper his movement in the next game. Kavcic
won three games in a row and reduced El Amrani’s lead to 4-3. At that moment, El Amrani decided to quit the match, which lasted for just 31 minutes.
Kavcic converted the only break point he received and saved one of the three break points he faced in the seven games of play.
The Slovakian will play Fognini in the next match.
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