Viktor Troicki ousts Fabio Fognini to reach the third round of Monte-Carlo Masters
World number 16 Viktor Troicki of Serbia rallied past Italian Fabio Fognini, ranked 53rd in the world, in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round at the Monte-Carlo Masters Series in Monaco on Wednesday. The Serbian
needed two hours and nine minutes to undo his opponent.
The first set saw both players breaking each other on a number of occasions. However, Troicki broke his opponent four times in the opening set, winning it 6-3. The Serbian converted four of the six break points he received in the
first set.
The second set was complete opposite to the opening set as this time Fognini claimed four breaks to win the set 6-4. Seven of the ten service games were broken in the second set. Fognini converted four and saved two break points
in the second set.
In the deciding set, Troicki broke Fognini in the fourth and eighth game, winning the set 6-4. The Serbian fired in couple of aces and 56 per cent of the first serves in the third set. The right-handed converted two of the four
break point opportunities in the final set.
With this win, Troicki improved his win/loss record to 18-7 this year. The Serbian started the season at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, where he lost to the eventual champion, the Swiss Maestro Roger Federer in straight sets 2-6, 2-6
in the quarterfinals. Troicki reached the finals at the Medibank International Sydney, losing to Gilles Simon of France 5-7, 6-7(4). In his last tournament, the 25-year-old was defeated by world number 2 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in straight sets 3-6, 2-6 in
the round of 16 at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami last week.
Troicki is drawn to meet either world number 8 Fernando Verdasco of Spain or another Spaniard Tommy Robredo, ranked 29th in the world, in the round of 16.
Robredo prevailed over world number 57 Ivan Dodig of Croatia in straight sets 6-4, 6- in the first round. While, sixth seed Verdasco received a bye in the opening round.
Tags: