Fabio Fognini cruised past Duckhee Lee 6-0 6-3 after 64 minutes in the opening match of the Davis Cup Qualifier tie at the Circolo Tennis in Cagliari in the opening match played behind closed doors. Gianluca Mager gave Italy a 2-0 lead at the end of the first day with a 6-4 7-5 win over Nam Ji Sung.
Fognini came back from 0-30 down by winning four consecutive points in the opening game. The Italian player earned two more breaks and saved a break point at 5-0 with a drop-shot to take a bagel win in the opening set.
Fognini started the second set with a break in the opening game after a double fault and a netted forehand from Lee.
Fognini faced two break points in the fourth game. The Italian saved the first chance at 30-40. Lee converted his second break point chance in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2, as Fognini hit his backhand into the net. Fognini broke serve at love in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead and sealed the second set with his second break.
“I did everything that we planned before the match. I started very solid. I relaxed a bit at the start of set two, which explains the loss of those games. Conditions were strange. I guess I am the first player in Italy to play a Davis Cup match in these conditions. It was not difficult to focus, but it was a bit strange, but it was a bit strange to play in front of 100 people, but safety first and then sport. I am happy, the first point is very important”, said Fognini.
Gianluca Mager edged past Nam Ji Sung 6-3 7-5 after 1 hour and 35 minutes. Mager, who reached the final in Rio de Janeiro earlier this week, won the first set 6-3 with a double break in the fourth and ninth games. Nam went up an early break to take a 2-0 lead and saved three break point chances to hold his serve at deuce in the sixth game. Mager broke back in the eighth game on his sixth break point chance to draw level to 4-4. The Italian player converted his fourth break point in the 12th game to win the second set 7-5.
