By Chris Oddo | Saturday October 22, 2016

 

Fabio Fognini reached his second career hardcourt final with a straight-sets takedown of Philipp Kohlschreiber in Moscow.

Photo Source: TennisTV

Fabio Fognini reached his second career hardcourt final with a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Kremlin Cup on Saturday. Fognini won 10 of the first 12 games but was forced to battle hard to jettison the German from the draw in the end. Kohlschreiber, playing his 35th career ATP semifinal, rallied from 4-1 down in set two to force a tiebreaker before bowing out.

More: Kuznetsova Wins Moscow, Headed to Singapore

Fognini, who has reached both of his career hardcourt finals in Russia, will meet Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the final.

The 26-year-old reached his fourth final of 2016 by defeating 36-year-old Stephane Robert of France, 6-3, 7-6(2), in one hour and 25 minutes.

"I didn't really feel good on the court today, but the most important thing in a semi-final is to win and go into the final," Carreno Busta said, according to ATPWorldTour.com. "I will need to play better tomorrow. Fabio is a good player."

Carreno Busta won the pair’s only previous meeting in 2013.

Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer of Austria will face Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah for the doubles title.