By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, April 15, 2019
One point from tumbling to a one-set, 1-5 deficit, Fabio Fognini turned on the fire fighting back to edge Andrey Rublev, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, in a riveting Monte-Carlo Masters opener.
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
The baseline isn’t a tight rope. Yet Fabio Fognini was up to his high-wire antics again today.
One point from tumbling to a one-set, 1-5 deficit, Fognini turned on the fire and flair fighting back to subdue Andrey Rublev, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, in a riveting Monte-Carlo Masters opener.
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The 13th-seeded Italian pulled off a slick stab half-volley dropper in the second set as he won six of the final seven games of the set to force a decider.
Fognini, who arrived at the first clay-court Masters tournament of the season staggering through a 1-7 skid in his last eight matches, was flat-footed and sloppy in stretches of the opening set.
The pair exchanged four straight breaks mid-way through the opening set.
Running around his two-handed backhand to rocket his flat forehand, Rublev exploited Fognini’s fourth double fault and a couple of errors to earn set points in the 10th game.
A 20-shot rally ended with Rublev ripping an inside-out forehand that left Fognini lunging at air and muttering misgivings facing a third set point. When the Italian sailed a backhand down the line, Rublev had a one-set lead.
The 21-year-old Russian qualifier opened the second set with two aces, broke for 3-1 and held break points for a 5-1 lead a little more than one hour into the match.
To that point, Fognini wasn’t exactly engaged in the match. In fact, the Italian bounced his racquet off the red clay a couple of times, belted a ball out of the stadium incurring a ball abuse warning and generally exuded about as much enthusiasm as a man waiting for root canal surgery in a dentist’s office.
With wife Flavia Pennetta exhorting him on, Fognini found his range and rhythm.
The world No. 18 broke back for 3-4 then broke again for 6-5. Shrugging off his eighth double fault, Fognini threw down a smash to convert his third set point and force a decider.
Despite serving just 45 percent and clanking eight double faults, Fognini's shotmaking roused the afternoon crowd, who exhorted the entertaining Italian throughout the final set. Fognini fired an ace for match point and closed a two hour, 30 minute adventure on a wild Rublev forehand.
Fognini's wife, Flavia Pennetta, exhaled in relief from the support box. Spare a thought for Rublev, who fought hard to the final ball and came out on the short side of a couple questionable line calls in the final set.
The theatrical Italian rallied past Rublev for the fourth time in five meetings, raising his record to 5-8 in 2019. Fognini will face either Marrakech semifinalist Gilles Simon or Aussie qualifier Alexei Popyrin with third-seeded Alexander Zverev potentially looming in the round of 16.
No. 17-seeded Kyle Edmund powered to a set and 3-0 lead before losing confidence and control of his forehand as Diego Schwartzman burst through nine straight games and 12 of the final 13 games in a spirited 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 comeback victory.
Sturdy German Jan-Lennard Struff spoiled Denis Shapovalov's 20th birthday with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 decision. Struff converted six of 10 break points in a one hour, 58-minute triumph to advance to a second-round meeting with Grigor Dimitrov, who defeated Mattero Berrettini yesterday.
No. 10-seeded Daniil Medvedev thrashed Joao Sousa, 6-1, 6-1, raising his record to 18-6 on the season.
The 14th-ranked Russian will play Radu Albot in round two.
Fresh off upsetting Novak Djokovic for the second time this season in Miami, Roberto Bautista Agut roared back for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Australian John Millman.
Matters will escalate dramatically for Bautista Agut, who faces 11-time champion Rafael Nadal next.
No. 11-seeded Marco Cecchinato held a 4-0 lead when Damir Dzumhur retired sending the Roland Garros semifinalist into a maiden meeting with three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka