Italy’s Fabio Fognini is very much a player who plays on the edge of his emotions. Those emotions boiled over again when he faced Tennys Sandgren in the Rio Open second round. Fognini won in a third set tie break, but that was not the whole story.
Speaking in his native Italian Fognini criticised the match umpire, Carlos Bernandes: “Where did they take you from? Where are you from? I swear on my son that it’s the last time that you are with me on court”.
Bernandes has managed grand slam finals in his career, including the 2006 US Open Men’s Singles Final between Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. The Brazilian is considered one of the best umpires on the circuit.
Fognini reflected on the match in the post match press conference. “very bad, the ball didn’t go and the court wasn’t at an ATP 500 level.”
The Italian had considered playing the North American tour this spring, but elected to continue to head to South America to play on the clay. Fognini will take on Fernando Verdasco in the bottom half semi-final. After defeating Sandgren, Fognini beat in-form Buenos Aires finalist Aljaz Bedene.
Verdasco impressively defeated Dominic Thiem 6-4, 6-0 to set up his meeting with the fiery Italian. The Spanish veteran also defeated a pair of Argentinians, Leonardo Mayer and Nicolas Kicker, to reach the last four.
