ATP Cup: Dennis Novak beats Fabio Fognini - Austria leads Italy 1-0
Dennis Novak gave the Austrian team a 1-0 lead at the ATP Cup against Italy. The 27-year-old beat Fabio Fognini 6-3 and 6-2. ( Here you can read the game in our live ticker ).
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 02, 2021, 01:28 am
During the joint preparation with Dominic Thiem in Adelaide, Dennis Novak reportedly presented himself in top form, accordingly the number 100 in the world did not go into the ATP Cup duel with Fabio Fognini as a seemingly hopeless outsider, despite the difference of more than 80 world ranking positions .
Because the Italian had not shown his best side in the recent past, at the ATP 250 tournament in Antalya it was already in the second round. In Melbourne, however, the 33-year-old got off to a good start and took Novak's first service game from him.
Fognini with numerous errors
Then tore at the world rankings-17. but as so often the thread completely out of nowhere. Novak consequently won the next four games and secured the first round 6: 3 a little later - not least thanks to 19 unforced errors by Fognini.
The second movement continued in a similar key. Novak played solid tennis and always provided highlights, while Fognini was often one step too late on the ball and sometimes presented himself listless. So the Austrian got two breaks relatively easily, which he served with a score of 5: 2 on the match.
Novak with second win against top 20 players
The Lower Austrian performed this task with flying colors: After just 72 minutes, the 6: 3 and 6: 2 success over Fabio Fognini was fixed. In the second game of Group C Dominic Thiem against Matteo Berrettini ( now in the Tennisnet Liveticker ) already has the chance to fix the victory for the Austrian team.
"I've waited a long time for today's match. I've been preparing since December. I think I've done a good job," said Novak after his second win against a top 20 man.
Here you can read the game between Novak and Fognini in our live ticker