Tennis Update: Fabio Fognini moves into the second round of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters
Fabio Fognini won his first round match at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters on Tuesday, beating higher ranked Kevin Anderson 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in a gruelling contest taking a little over two hours.
World number 53, Fognini reached the quarter-finals at Casablanca, Morocco before losing to Spaniard Albert Montanes. Though he departed from the round of 32 at Barletta Open, Italy and Costa Do Sauipe, Brazil, he entered this
tournament very optimistically and reached the second round ousting South African in straight sets.
Fognini’s best performance at the Monte Carlo Masters came in 2009, where he moved it into the third round defeating Marin Cilic in straight sets, though he lost to Andy Murray of Great Britain with a 6-7(11), 4-6 score line.
What made Fognini’s victory more astonishing was the fact that he didn’t lose his concentration at any point of the game. Anderson on the other hand was more persistent in the first set and his shots carried more pressure.
Both players looked very involved and active in the beginning of the first set but unfortunately Fognini threw a couple of double faults and got himself broken with a 3-6 score line. Anderson fully exploited the chances granted
by his Italian opponent and converted 76 percent of points on his 72 percent first serve. In addition to this he also converted 67 percent breakpoints in the service and 100 percent breakpoints in return to clinch the opening set with a 6-3 score.
When the things were not turning they way Fognini had hoped, he shifted to plan B, continuing to hammer the ball more aggressively. His plans had just started working as he converted 89 percent points on his first and second serves
respectively. Fognini kept the pressure on Anderson serve and broke him twice in the second set to win it 6-2.
In the final set, both players were playing equally well till the Italian broke Anderson twice in the game and won the match in straight sets. Total points won by the Fognini in the match were 56 percent.
Fognini looked very contented and glad after his over the Russian. After this win, Fognini has levelled their head-to-head results by 1-1. Continuing with his ascent, the Italian will face Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the next round.
Players met last at the 2009 China Open where Troicki moved past him in straights sets in a round of 32.Troicki seeded eleventh at the tournament, ousted Jean-Rene Lisnard of Monaco with straight sets to enter into the second round.
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