Fabio Fognini edged past Andy Murray 6-4 4-6 6-4 after 2 hours and 54 minutes to earn his biggest of the year at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Fognini now leads 5-4 in his nine head-to-head matches against Murray. The Italian player had won their most recent match in the tie-break of the third set in Shanghai in 2019.
In their previous clash at the Foro Italico in Rome in 2017 Fognini beat Murray in straight sets.
Murray lost his first match in a deciding set this season after nine previous wins. The British player saved five break points to hold his first service game. Fognini earned his first break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead.
Murray wasted three break points before Fognini held serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. The first six games took 48 minutes. Fognini sealed the first set 6-4 with a hold at love.
Murray converted his seventh break points on Fognini’s first service game to open up a 2-0 lead, when Fognini made a double fault. The British player earned a double break. Fognini pulled one of the breaks back in the fifth game for 1-4. Murray broke for the third time in the sixth game to race out to a 5-1 lead. Fognini pulled both breaks back to win three consecutive games.
Murray earned three set points on Fognini’s serve. Murray converted his third chance when Fognini hit a backhand into the net. Fognini made 23 unforced errors to Murray’s eight in the second set.
Fognini earned an early break in the first game of the third set, as Murray sent a forehand into the tramlines. Fognini held on his service games and sealed his spot in the second round with an ace.
Fognini dropped just three points on serve in the third set.
