Fabio Fognini upsets Michael Llodra in the opening round – Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters 2012
A first round rematch of the contest played two years ago at Monte-Carlo a new Italian winner, Fabio Fognini, who crushed the 31-year-old French, Michael Llodra, in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters. The Italian was pushed in the first
set but did well to seal a win 7-5, 6-3.
Incredible start to the match witness three straight games going to the wire before players settled into the atmosphere and registered comprehensive serve holds. No breakpoint was witnessed in the first 10 games of the match. It
shows that both contenders were cautious in taking any sort of chance on their serves that provided no opening for their counterparts to take hold of the proceedings.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 11th game when the French superior ranked contestant could only win a single point before dropping successive points to gift the game. Fognini was under the cosh to hold serve;
however, made no mistake on his serve and clasped the win easily at the end.
The second set started with a serve hold before a swap of breakpoint took place. It was Llodra who was struggling once again; went down to a trail of 2-4 courtesy to successive breakthroughs for his opponent. Both players clasped
the serve holds in the following three games to push the scores at 5-3 in favour of the Italian.
It was a ‘do or die’ situation for the 47th ranked French to dodge an upset but he couldn’t hold his serve in the ninth game and donated the win to his rival. It was a classic performance from the 60th ranked
Italian who booked a spot in the second round draws. Total points played in the match were 115; the winner grabbed 63 of them whilst the French tennis ace bagged 52.
Fognini will take on the victorious contestant of the match between the 11th seed Spaniard, Juan Monaco, and the Dutch representative, Robin Haase. It will be another tough battle for him; regardless of the result of
the match. However, the Spaniard is in sublime run of form having won the title of US Men’s clay court championship defeating the superior ranked American, John Isner.
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