Fabio Fognini Seals The Decisive Third Match For Italy - UBITENNIS

Fabio Fognini Seals The Decisive Third Match For Italy

By sampaolo
4 Min Read
Fabio Fognini in action (image via Tuttosport)

Fabio Fognini beat Teymuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in the fourth rubber on Sunday in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, giving Italy the decisive point for 3-1 to remain in the Davis Cup World Group in 2016.

Fabio Fognini was once again the Italian Davis Cup hero this weekend as he won both singles and the doubles match alongside Simone Bolelli on Saturday.

Today Fognini rose to the challenge in the Davis Cup winning the third decisive point in the rubber against Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets. Fognini did not face a easy task against the World Number 58 but he played very well in the most crucial moments of the match.

Fognini and Gabashvili met for just the second time in their careers six years after their first head-to-head match which was won by the Russian player.

In the first set Fognini went up a break twice in the seventh game for 4-3 but he was broken back immediately in the next game. The Italian broke again at 5-all and served for the set at 6-5 but Gabashvili broke straight back forcing it to the tie-break. Fognini raced to 6-2 and clinched a solid tie-break on the first of his four set points with 7-4.

Gabashvili did not give up and broke serve at the start of the second set after three unforced errors from Fognini.

The Italian broke straight back for 1-1 and earned three break points at 3-1 but Gabashvili saved them. Fognini got a crucial break in the sixth game with a down-the line forehand for 4-2. He held his serve easily before serving out to clinch the set and take a 2-0 lead. During the second set the Italian produced 14 winners.

Fognini broke serve in the first game of the third set with a crosscourt backhand. Gabashvili broke back in the sixth game with a backhand down the line for 3-3. Gabashvili saved two break points in the next game.

The third set came down to a tie-break. Gabashvili hit a backhand volley into the net to go down 2-4. Fognini reeled off four consecutive points from 2-2 to take a 6-2 lead and earned four match points as Gabashvili hit a crosscourt backhand long. Gabashvili saved three match points before Fognini closed out the match at the fourth opportunity in just two hours and 36 minutes as Gabashvili sent a backhand long.

Italy now leads 5-1 in the Davis Cup head-to-head matches against Russia. Short after his Davis Cup triumph, the world number 28 praised the current state of Italian tennis.

“It would have been a blow if the match had been forced to the fourth set. I started the third set well. I played aggressively and went up a break. The tie-break was hard. It is always difficult to play three matches in three days. I showed that I have a passion for playing for the Italian team in the Davis Cup. I fought until the end although I was not in my best shape. When the National team calls me, I am ready. It’s very important to remain in the World Group. I want to relax and enjoy this win. I dedicate this win to myself, my family, my team and the captain who believed in me. Italian men’s tennis needed this win after the recent successful results of the women at the US Open”, said Fognini.

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