Spain’s Feliciano Lopez has caused a major upset at the ASB Classic after knocking top seed Fabio Fognini out of the draw.
Following a rain-interrupted Tuesday in Auckland, the 38-year-old was forced to play both his first and second round matches. After overcoming compatriot Pablo Andujar 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, in two-and-a-half hours, he returned to the court 90 minutes later for a fiery encounter with the world No.12.
Engaged in yet another marathon battle on the court, Lopez held his nerve to prevail 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, despite a slight meltdown at one stage. Sparks was triggered during the first set after he got into an argument with umpire Ahmed Abdel-Azim. During the first set the Italian hit a ball to Lopez, which he returned out. When he requested a challenge a miscommunication arose. The umpire though the Spaniard wanted to challenge the ball he hit out, however, when he realised what happen Lopez said his challenge was in regards to the ball Fognini hit. Although Abdel-Azim then said it was too late to challenge that. Inflating the world No.61, who then received a code violation for something he said.
“There is no way I could challenge a ball that was so far out.” Lopez said afterwards, according to stuff.co.nz.
“There is no one in the crowd that ever thought I was going to challenge this ball.
“If I challenge, it’s because the ball is close, so he has to give me the challenge on the baseline, instead of the one that went out.
“I think umpires make a mistake sometimes and he made a mistake to be honest.
“It’s nonsense, why am I going to challenge a ball where there is no chance to be good, the ball is so far out,” he added.
Despite the incident, Lopez managed to regroup and clinch victory. Firing 17 aces past Fognini and breaking the Italian three times in total. It is the first time he has beaten him on the tour since the 2016 Wimbledon Championships.
Understandably tired following two tough matches, Lopez said there was a silver lining to the situation he was in. Prior to today, he was yet to play a singles match in 2020. Last week at the ATP Cup he participated solely in the doubles with Pablo Carreno Busta.
“I think this is very good to play against Fabio [and] it would have been much tougher to face Fabio without any match this year,” he reflected.
“Of course it is not the best situation when you have to play two matches in the same day, but under the circumstances, it was very helpful to be honest, to have a long match before playing this match.”
Lopez will next play Polish sixth seed Hubert Hurkacz, who dismissed qualifier Elias Ymer in straight sets.
Although to the quarter-finals is Kyle Edmund. The Brit rallied to a 6-3, 7-6(4), win over Andreas Seppi. It is the first time he has reached the last eight stage of an ATP event since the Washington Open back in August. He will next play fourth seed John Isner, who defeated defending champion Tennys Sandgren in three sets.
Finally, second seed Denis Shapovalov edged out fellow Canadian Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 7-6(2), to set up a meeting with Ugo Humbert.
