Fabio Fognini secured his spot in the semifinal of the Kremlin Cup ATP 250 Tournament in Moscow after his 6-2 6-2 win over Albert Ramos Vinolas. The Italian player has extended his win-loss record to 8-0 in his head-to-head matches against Ramos Vinolas. Fognini beat Ramos Vinolas in Shanghai last week.
The opening set started with a trade of breaks in the first two games. Fognini got his second break in the fifth game to love for 3-2 and consolidated it by holding his service game to 15. He broke for the third game to open up a 5-2 lead with a forehand and served out on his second set point in the next game.
In the first game of the second set Fognini wasted a break point at deuce with a forehand unforced error but converted his second chance with a down the line passing shot. Ramos Vinolas broke straight back as Fognini made a double fault. Fognini wasted five break points (including three consecutive chances at 0-40 in the third game. Ramos Vinolas did not convert one break point in the fourth game. Fognini got the break for 4-2 with a passing shot. In the seventh game Fognini broke again as Ramos Vinolas made three unforced errors. The Italian player served out to 30 to close out the match after 76 minutes.
Fognini will take on Phillip Kohlschreiber who beat Thomas Bellucci 6-4 6-2. Kohlschreiber got the break in the opening game as Bellucci made a double fault on the break point. Kohlschreiber got a double break and earned three consecutive break points at 4-0 but Bellucci saved them. Kohlschreiber held his final two service games to qualify for his fifth semifinal in 2016 after Rotterdam, Barcelona, Munich and Stuttgart
