Fabio Fognini ousts Philipp Kohlschreiber to grab the crown – Mercedes Cup 2013
Italian contender, Fabio Fognini, stunned the local star, Philipp Kohlschreiber, in a three-set thriller at the Mercedes Cup 2013 on Sunday. He penned down a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory against the second seed to grab his maiden ATP World Tour crown at this clay
court event being held in Stuttgart, Germany.
Seeded fifth in this event, Fognini played his best tennis at this ATP World Tour 250 series event. As a result, he not only earned €74,000 in Prize money and 250 Emirates Airways ATP World Tour Rankings but also took home a brand new Mercedes-Benz A 45
AMG ‘Edition 1’ car.
The ecstatic Italian commented in a courtside interview after stealing the show, “Finally, after two finals, I have won. I played great, great tennis this week. I am really happy to have won the final. I was focused on my game and I think I felt fresh physically.
He played an incredible game when I was 4-1 up [in the third set], with a double-break. So the tension increased, but then I got some luck. I just thought about my serve and playing solid. This gives me a lot of confidence. I will never forget my first title.”
The German star stormed into this match. He smoothly held his serves and got the breakthrough towards the end, subsequently sealing the opener by winning seven games to five.
Fognini turned the tables on the world number 22 in the following set. He prevailed throughout the set and grabbed the equaliser with a 6-4 win.
Ranked 25th in the world, Fognini carried his rhythm in the deciding set. He again dominated and clinched the decider with a 6-4 score line.
On the whole, the Italian star clobbered a better first serve ratio of 63 per cent in contrast with his rival’s 56 per cent and amazingly marked 46 out of 59 points on it.
The local seed praised Fognini in a post match presser, “Fabio played a great tournament and I can also be happy. I think I started badly in the second and third sets."
Both challengers were battling each other for the third time. The German star conquered Fognini in both occasions last year but with this triumph, the lower seed not only avenged his losses but also lowered trail in their FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by
1-2.
Fognini is eyeing to carry his rhythm on the upcoming hard court events.
Tags: