Fabio Fognini battled past Frances Tiafoe 5-7 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-4 after 3 hours and 23 minutes in one of his best matches ever on grass to advance to the second round at Wimbledon.
Tiafoe went up a break in the sixth game of the first set to take a 4-2 lead. Fognini broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Tiafoe broke serve for the second time in the 11th game to take the first set 7-5.
Fognini converted the only break in the 10th game to clinch the second set 6-4.
Fognini went up a break to take a 2-0 lead at the start of the third set. Tiafoe broke straight back in the third game, but Fognini broke for the second time and held his serve at deuce to build up a 4-1 lead. Fognini saved two break-back points with a lob and his 11th ace at 5-3 before closing out the third set on his second set point.
In the fourth set Tiafoe came back 2-4 down by winning four consecutive games to take the fourth set. Fognini went up a break to open up a 2-0 lead and earned a double break point, but Tiafoe saved it. Tiafoe broke back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4 after two forehand errors from Fognini. Tiafoe broke in the 10th game to seal the fourth set after a double fault from Fognini.
Fognini went up an early break in the first game of the fifth set. The world number 10 player saved a break-back point in the fourth game with a smash. The Italian player held on his next service games and served out the win on his first match point.
“I played well in the fifth set after losing the fourth set. I knew it would be a hard match. He played two tournaments before Wimbledon”, said Fognini
