Fabio Fognini came back from one set down to knock out Andrey Rublev 4-6 7-5 6-4 after 2 hours and 30 minutes in the opening round at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Fognini, who reached the semifinal in Monte-Carlo in 2013, saved a break point in the second game before breaking serve in the third game. Rublev broke straight back in the next game.
Fognini got another break at 15 in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Rublev reeled off eight of the next 10 points to take a 4-3 lead with a break-back in the sixth game. Fognini won three consecutive points in the eighth game to hold his serve for 4-4. Rublev converted his second break point chance in the 10th game to clinch the first set 6-4.
Rublev went up a set and a break in the fourth game on his second opportunity and held his service game to take a 4-1 lead. In the sixth game Fognini saved five break points to hold his service game. The Italian player broke back on his first chance in the seventh game to claw his way back to 3-4 and saved a break point in the eighth game to hold on his service game for 4-4. Fognini turned around the match in the 11th game, when he converted his second break point to take a 6-5 lead. Fognini sealed the second set 7-5 on his second chance sending the match to the third set.
Fognini went up a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead. He held his service game in the fourth game with a half volley for 3-1. He saved a break point to hold serve for 4-2. Fognini won a crucial point at 5-4 15-15 after a long rally before sealing the win on his first match point to the delight of the Italian fans, who packed the Court Rainier III.
Fognini will face either Alexei Popyrin or Gilles Simon in the second round,
Diego Schwartzman fought back from a break down to beat Kyle Edmund 4-6 6-3 6-1 after just over two hours. Edmund got the break in the 10th game to clinch the first set 6-4. He built up a 3-0 lead with a break, but Schwartzman reeled off six consecutive games to close out the second set 6-3. Schwartzman built up a 3-0 lead to extend his winning streak to nine consecutive games. Edmund stopped the losing streak by taking the fourth game, but Schwartzman won the final three games to close out the third set 6-1. Schwartzman set up a second round clash against either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Taylor Fritz.
Lorenzo Sonego edged past Andreas Seppi 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 after 1 hour and 45 minutes setting up a second round match against Karen Khachanov.
The first set went on serve without break points and was decided by the tie-break. Sonego, who reached the quarter final in Marrakesh last week and came through the qualifying round in Monte-Carlo, earned two set points at 6-4 and sealed the first on his first chance. Seppi saved two set points in the first game of the second set. Both players went on serve until the seventh game when Sonego got the decisive break. Sonego served out the win 6-4 on his second match point at deuce.
David Goffin beat Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi 6-1 6-4 after 85 minutes to clinch his 10th win in Monte-Carlo. Goffin beat Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic to advance to the semifinal in Monte-Carlo before losing to Rafael Nadal. Goffin will face Dusan Lajovic, who beat Malek Jaziri 6-4 6-4.
Mikhail Kukushkin beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-4 setting up a second round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Last year’s Roland Garros semifinalist Marco Cecchinato was leading 4-0 before Damir Dzumhur was forced to retire due to injury. Cecchinato will face Stan Wawrinka in the second round.
This year’s Sofia semifinalist Marton Fucsovics edged Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-5 3-6 6-1 to secure his spot in the second round, where he will face either Adrian Mannarino or Cameron Norrie.
