Stanislas Wawrinka defeats Fabio Fognini in the first round of Internazionali BNL D’Italia
World number fourteen Stanislas Wawrinka required two hours and twenty one minutes to defeat Fabio Fognini 6(5)-7, 6-2, 6-4 in the first round match of Rome Masters on Tuesday. The 26-year-old took down his Italian opponent in
three sets to ensure his spot in the second round of this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. The Swiss has already gained some much-need momentum, and with such an awesome display of serving, it seems he’s destined to gain a lot of success in his future matches.
The Swiss was playing an artistic first set which he had started in aggressive manner pinching some very quick points before losing the first set to his Italian opponent. The success was short-lived as the Italian quickly took
control of the first set and converted 100 percent breakpoints on the way to a tiebreaker. The 48th-ranked Italian dominated the decider seven points to five, so he had the upper hand in the first set before Wawrinka’s one handed-backhands halt
the proceedings. Fognini was way too strong for the inconsistent Swiss, who looked totally fazed by his poor play in the first set. Fognini scored 61 percent on service, 30 percent on return and 49 percent of points in total to clinch the first set.
Initially staggered by his opponent’s scintillating start, Wawrinka entered the field with a new plan and looked very confident and didn’t lose his head. He quickly positioned himself to win and broke Fognini’s serve in the eighth
game to clinch the second set 6-2. He scored 64 percent of points behind his service, 42 percent of points on return and 56 percent on points in total to tie the match at one set apiece. Fognini on the other hand, was totally out of the form and continued
to spray errors from all over the court. The 23-year-old tossed in two double-faults on break point to fall into a significant hole. From then on the Swiss completely took control of his next two games enroute to the final set.
Wawrinka entered the second set in an attacking mind set and never came close to giving away the lead because he dropped a mere one point on his first serve. The Swiss concluded the match with a love service hold at 5-4, clinching
victory on his first match point with a splendid serve-and-volley play. He scored three aces, 61 percent of first serves and won a whopping 93 percent on them whereas Wawrinka lagged behind with a huge difference of 33 percent.
Switzerland’s No. 14 seed, who is now 4-0 against Fognini in their head-to-head sequence, wrapped up his victory with majority of scores on stats. The Swiss now moves on ahead to face another Italian, Filippo Volandri.
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