Xavier Malisse brings down Fabio Fognini in round 2 – Erste Bank Open 2011
Xavier Malisse, Belgian world No.50, snatched away the 2nd round match of Erste Bank Open 2011 from the higher ranked Italian, Fabio Fognini, on Thursday, 27th of October as he jolted the 24-year-old with
a stunning comeback winning 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3 in an almost two hours hard indoor match at Wiener Stadthalle, Vienna.
Firing up with the start, Malisse opened up serving the first game of the match. However, the Italian world no.44 blazed away with a match opening breakpoint and led the scoreboard, 0-1. Serving out next, game 2, Fognini won his
second consecutive game to lead the set 2-0.
Following up with his first win of the set, match, Malisse finally tore down his side of the scoreboard, 1-2, and switched the serve. Fognini maintained his lead winning game 4, 3-1, followed by a win by the world No.50, 3-2. Rallying
down games, the Italian 24-year-old kept his lead until game 10.
Striking back with a breakpoint, Malisse, ranked world no.44, broke the lower ranked Belgian, to level up the lead at 5-5. With a win each next the set went into a tiebreaker. Managing to cut the lead down Malisse was unable to
counter the Italians offence and broke down losing the tiebreaker, 7-3, and the first set, 7-6(3).
Continuing with set two, Fognini took out the opener rolling down the scoreboard, 1-0, however, was followed up by the world no.44 levelling up winning game 2, 1-1. With the two winning a game each next, levelled up at 2-2 before
the Belgian world No.50 struck.
Breaking the higher ranked Italian, Malisse took the lead, 3-2, and served out game 6 to extend his lead to 4-2. Fognini did cut down the lead winning game seven, 4-3, however, was unable to break back at any point and eventually
lost the set 6-3.
With the decider on its way, the veteran Belgian served out game one of the third set to open up the scoreboard, 1-0. Following up with a winner, Italian world No.44 levelled up right away, 1-1. Unable to break each other the two
won a game each to equal up again at 2-2 before the Belgian made the final move of the match.
Serving out game 5, 3-2, Malisse broke his counterpart in game 6, 4-2, and served out game 7, attaining a comfortable winning lead, 5-2. Left with just one more win to end up the match, Malisse served out one out of the last two
games finishing off the set, 6-3, and the match with an astonishing comeback.
Through into the second round of the ATP World Tour 250 event, Malisse now faces the top seed, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, French world No.9, as they battle out the semis seat on Friday, 28th of October at the centre court.
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