ATP Cup: the amazing transformation of Fabio Fognini
Italy is in the final of the ATP Cup in Melbourne. Also because Fabio Fognini found his form.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Feb 06, 2021, 09:48 am
It was, so to speak, prepared for a classic penned by Fabio Fognini: The Italian had just given away three match points with a score of 5: 3 in the third set against Pablo Carreno Busta, and now, at the start of the tenth game, he also played a not very easy, but still feasible volley in the net. So the best conditions for a turnaround? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that. Fognini dominated the following rallies with his forehand, bringing Italy 1-0 lead in the semifinals of the ATP Cup 2021 against Spain.
An amazing achievement if you take the maximum listless performance against Austria's Dennis Novak at the beginning as a benchmark. Experience has shown that the subsequent win against Benoit Paire should be treated with caution - because the French also tend to just let matches sometimes go. But Carreno Busta is an opponent who does not give away any points. Fognini had to work hard for 6: 2, 1: 6 and 6: 4.
Fognini on course to Nadal
Fognini used the corona break last year for operations on both ankles, after which he could no longer develop any real joy in playing. On good days like Saturday in Melbourne, the 33-year-old is still one of the quickest players on the tour. On normal days, on the other hand, the backhand gets stuck in the net too often and the dropshots are too short.
At the Australian Open, Fognini has to face Pierre-Hugues Herbert in round one, and if the tournament went well, a round of 16 against Rafael Nadal would wait. The Spaniard is also a sphinx these days - at the ATP Cup he only showed himself to be a particularly ambitious cheerleader. Fognini turned a 2-0 set deficit against Nadal at the 2015 US Open - only to go down against Feliciano Lopez one round later.
Berrettini Chef in the team
Fabio Fognini's role in the ATP Cup is certainly not inconvenient: Matteo Berrettini , who, as number one, naturally also has to play the more difficult opponents, storms ahead. And defeated them one after the other in an impressive way: Dominic Thiem , Gael Monfils and Roberto Bautista Agut can tell you a thing or two about it.
In the final of the ATP Cup on Sunday, however, Fabio Fognini will also be served a top ten man: Andrey Rublev, who has not yet lost a match in Melbourne.