Jannik Sinner overcame Fabio Fognini 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach the third round at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in the Foro Italico in Rome.
Sinner improved his record to 4-0 in his head-to-head matches against fellow Italian players.
Sinner broke twice in the third and fifth games and held his final two service games to close out the first set 6-2.
Fognini broke serve to love in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Sinner broke straight back in the fifth game for 2-3. Fognini broke for the second time in the sixth game to close out the second set 6-3.
Sinner broke serve in the fourth game of the third set to open up a 4-1 lead. Fognini broke back at love in the seventh game for 3-4. Sinner earned his second break in the eighth game after two break points from Fognini. Sinner hit a service winner to seal the win on his first match point. “It was a tough one. I tried to play my best tennis, especially in the important points. In the second set, he raised his level. He played better than me. In the third set it was a little bit of a rollercoaster. Fortunately I have done a great job in the final set to manage to break him first, and this was the key today. Fabio Fognini is a great friend. He gave me a lot of confidence when I played with him in Davis Cup. He is a very special player. He can raise his level incredibly fast ”, said Sinner.
