Tag Archives: Fabio Fognini

Ferrer Advances to Semi-Finals at Argentina’s Copa Claro

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David Ferrer is one step closer to reaching 21…

21 ATP tournament titles, that is.

David Ferrer

The 31-year-old Spanish tenista beat his compatriot Albert Ramos 6-1, 6-2 on Friday to reach the semifinals of the Copa Claro tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Ferrer, the two-time defending champion in Buenos Aires and this year’s No. 1 seed, is hoping to win his 21st ATP tournament.

Second-seeded Fabio Fognini of Italy and No. 3 Tommy Robredo of Spain are also into the semifinals, and they’ll face each other on Saturday.

Fognini, who won the ATP event last week in Chile, advanced Friday by defeating Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-4, 6-3.

Robredo won his match against Robin Haase of the Netherlands. Robredo won the first set 6-1, and Haase retired with an injury after falling behind 2-0 in the second set.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal pulled out of the tournament with a back injury but will play next week in the Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro.

Robredo Takes the Croatia Open Title in Straight Sets

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Make that No. 12 for Tommy Robredo…

The 31-year-old Spanish professional tennis player beat Italy’s Fabio Fognini 6-0, 6-3 on Sunday to win the Croatia Open and win his 12th career title and second this year.

Tommy Robredo

Robredo won the opening set in only 18 minutes, losing just six points with Fognini helpless to reverse the rout from the clay-court baseline.

Fognini broke Robredo twice in the second set but could only hold serve once himself.

“No money can buy this feeling,” Robredo said. “I played a perfect match, did a great job. But in matches like this it is always important to win.”

Robredo also won on clay at the Grand Prix Hassan II in April in Casablanca, Morocco. Eleven of his 12 titles have been on the surface.

The result halted an impressive run by Fognini. The Italian captured two titles in winning 13 straight matches en route to the Umag final. He won both tournaments in Germany, in Stuttgart two weeks ago and Hamburg last Sunday.

“Probably too many matches behind me — and no match tonight,” Fognini said. “I had no power, he deserved to win. I am disappointed but I played three incredible weeks. It will stay in my memory my whole life.”

In the 24-year history of the Croatia Open, a Spaniard has won 10 times. Former world No. 1 Carlos Moya holds the record with five victories.

Delbonis Defeats Roger Federer to Reach His First-Ever ATP Final

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It took two tiebreakers, but Federico Delbonis has managed to take down a champion to reach his first ATP World final…

The 22-year-old Argentine tennis player, currently ranked No. 114 in the world, outplayed former World No. 1 Roger Federer 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4) Saturday in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships.

Federico Delbonis

“He played well, he was a little more aggressive,” said Federer, a four-time champion at the tournament in Hamburg.

Delbonis, playing in only the second semifinal of his career, maintained his composure and gave Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, only two break points, one of which he saved.

Federer broke for a 2-1 lead but was broken right back and had to save two set points to force the tiebreaker. He squandered a 4-2 lead, was unable to convert his one set point and saved three with service winners before Delbonis converted his fourth with a smash after some well-played points.

Federer came under pressure immediately in the second set and had to fend off three break points in his opening service game and another in the sixth. Delbonis saved one break point in the next game with an impressive volley winner.

In the tiebreaker, Federer made two straight groundstroke errors and he netted a forehand on Delbonis’ first match point.

Delbonis, who will improve to a career-high ranking of around No. 59, according to the ATP, will play Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the final. Fognini defeated third-seeded Spain’s Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 7-6 (1).

Fognini won his first career title in Stuttgart last week and is riding a nine-match winning streak.

Almagro Defeats Defending Champion to Reach the Semis at the German Tennis Championships

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Nicolas Almagro has taken down the reigning champion in Hamburg…

The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star withstood a tough challenge from defending champion Juan Monaco of Argentina to earn a spot in the semifinals of the German Tennis Championships.

Nicolas Almagro

Almagro, the third-seeded player in the tournament, rallied to beat his Argentine opponent by a score of 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 on Friday for his place in the semis.

He’ll next play Italy’s Fabio Fognini, who beat Tommy Haas for the second time in two weeks to reach the semifinals, with a 6-2, 6-4 win over the second-seeded home favorite.

Almagro, currently ranked No. 15 in the world, is aiming for the 13th title of his career.

Nadal Gunning for Ninth Straight Monte Carlo Masters Title

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Rafael Nadal is back in the Monte Carlo Masters final again…

Despite his injury concerns, the 26-year-old Spanish tennis star will be vying for his ninth successive Monte Carlo title after defeating France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the semi-finals.

Rafael Nadal

Nadal will next meet World No. 1 Novak Djokovic on Sunday for the 16th time in a championship. Nadal leads 8-7 in their finals matches.

Nadal can improve upon his formidable record on the Monte Carlo red clay — winner of the last eight titles and 46 consecutive match victories.

Nadal has reached five successive finals since returning from a seven-month layoff for a left knee injury. He will go for his fourth title of the season against Djokovic, who cruised past unseeded Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic and Nadal have not played against each other since last year’s French Open final, which Nadal won. He has won their last three encounters, after Djokovic took the previous seven — all of which were tournament finals. Nadal leads their head-to-head contests 19-14.

Nadal has been on a winning roll at Monte Carlo since 2005. His last loss here was to former French Open champ Guillermo Coria in 2003, and he missed the following year because of injury.

He insists he’s still some way from full fitness, despite dropping only one set so far.

“I know I need time to be 100 percent fit,” said Nadal, adding he thinks Djokovic’s injury was tame by comparison. “He stopped for, what, a few days for his ankle?”