ATP Masters Rome: Dimitrov to meet Fognini again 2nd round - UBITENNIS

ATP Masters Rome: Dimitrov to meet Fognini again 2nd round

By Staff
4 Min Read

TENNIS – Grigor Dimitrov, quarter finalist in Monte-Carlo and Madrid and semifinalist last year in Rome, converted on one of his six break point opportunities and did not face any break points in his 6-3 7-6 (7-4) win over Jerzy Janowicz after one hour and 32 minutes. Dimitrov hit 11 unforced errors to Janowic’s 31. Di Diego Sampaolo

Dimitrov will renew his rivalry against Fabio Fognini in another re-match of the second round matches in Monte-Carlo and Madrid. The Italian star overcame US Steve Johnson 7-6 (7-0) 6-3.

Fognini, who never reached the third round in his nine appearances in Rome, saved a break point at 3-4 and managed to hold his serve to draw level to 5-5. The first set went on serve until the tie-break where Fognini dominated with 7-0.

The second serve went on serve until the eighth game when Fognini finally got the crucial break for 5-3 before. He committed a double fault but earned the match point and a few minutes later he closed out with 6-3.

Dominic Thiem edged past Simone Bolelli 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) in the first round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia at the Foro Italico in Rome.

Both players went on serve without facing any break point chances until the tie-break where Thiem opened up a 4-1 lead before closing out with 7-3 after one hour. The second set went on serve until 2-2 when Thiem earned the first break points before breaking serve to take a 4-2 lead.

The young Austrian served for the match at 5-4 but Bolelli broke back for 5-5, Bolelli won the 11th game for 6-5 but Thiem forced the match to the tie-break where he won with 7-5

Thiem fended off six of his seven break point chances he faced.

Giles Simon rallied from a set down to edge past Jack Sock 4-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-3. Sock went up a break in the second set but Simon drew level to force the set to the tie-break where he raced out to a 4-0 lead after Sock committed a double fault. Simon got the break in the final stages of the decider before closing out the match to love in the ninth game. Sock faced problems with his serve and committed 48 unforced errors.

Richard Gasquet, recent winner in Estoril, beat Italian Tomas Fabbiano 6-1 7-6 (7-0). Fabbiano, who beat Andrey Rublev in the qualifying round, went down a break until 4-5 in the second set. Fabbiano managed to break when Gasquet was serving for the match. Gasquet won seven consecutive points before clinching the win at the tie-break with 7-0. Gasquet will face David Ferrer in the second round.

Pablo Cuevas, runner-up to Roger Federer in Istanbul, beat Paolo Lorenzo 6-3 6-2. Cuevas broke serve once in the first set where he wo 81 percent of his first serve points before cruising to 4-0 in the second set en route to winning the second set with 6-2.

US John Isner hit 13 aces to beat Joao Sousa 7-5 6-3. Isner saved the only break point he faced.

Phillip Kohlschschreiber did not face any break points in his 6-4 6-1 win over Donald Young.