Fabio Fognini shocks Andreas Seppi to reach semis – BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012
In an all-Italian clash, Fabio Fognini stuns his sixth seeded compatriot, Andreas Seppi, in a three-set mouth-watering match at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy 2012, an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250 series event held in Bucharest,
Romania. He summed up a 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 success against the world number 46 to book a spot in the final four on Friday.
Fognini required almost three hours taking down his fellow citizen in their fifth encounter. After outclassing Seppi, the 24-year-old not only lowered trail in their FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 1-4 but also advanced into the semi-finals at this clay
court event.
The Sanremo native thundered into the BNR Arenas and earned the desiderated break in the opening game to leap to a 2-0 lead. Apart from losing his edge in the sixth game, Fognini stayed in the game and got the breakthrough in the ninth game, subsequently
bagging the opener with a 6-4 win.
The 28-year-old Italian on the other end fought back in the second set and got the critical break in the second game to extend his lead at 3-0. He lost his edge in the fifth game but quickly got the upper hand again after breaking Fognini’s serve in the
sixth game. Despite losing his serve once more in the ninth game, Seppi not only dragged the set to the tie-breaker but also edged past his rival in it to claim the equaliser at 7-6(4) score line.
The final set saw both contestants displaying their best tennis. However, Fognini got the better of his compatriot after cashing in his fourth break chance in the last game, eventually registering a 6-4 victory.
Fognini will next confront the Hungarian qualifier, Attila Balazs, who upset Belgium’s Xavier Malisse in a three-set thriller to occupy this position.
Matthias Bachinger will accompany the winning Italian in the final four. He devastated his compatriot, Daniel Brands, with a breadstick in 69 minutes to earn the limelight. The world number 120 brushed off both breakpoints he faced and cashed in all three
break opportunities to manipulate a 6-4, 6-1 score line.
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