By Chris Oddo | Saturday July 23, 2016
Fabio Fognini is rounding into form nicely in Umag. The Italian defeated Gastao Elias in straight sets to reach the final.
Photo Source: Croatia Open
Could there be two Italian titlists on the ATP Tour this week? Paolo Lorenzi did his job in Kitzbuhel, winning his first career title on Saturday, now it’s up to 29-year-old Fabio Fognini in Umag.
The World No. 39 took down Portugal’s Gastao Elias, 6-3, 6-3, in 65 minutes to book his spot alongside Slovakia’s Andrej Martin in the final. Fognini did not face a single break point and made the most of his opportunities, breaking three times on five opportunities.
Fognini raced out to a 3-0 lead in the opener and never looked back, dropping only four points on serve in the first set against the world No. 72, and only losing ten service points overall. In the second set Fognini broke for 2-1 and then again in the final game of the match to close affairs and earn a spot in his 11th career final.
All three of Fognini’s career titles have come on clay and he will bid for his fourth against a first-time finalist in World No. 124 Martin.
Martin, who saved five match points in the round of 16 on Thursday to defeat Martin Klizan, took out Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq, 7-6(4), 6-4, on Saturday. Martin was relentless, earning 17 break points and converting six, to improve to 7-2 at the tour-level this season.
Fognini improves to 18-8 lifetime at Umag. He was a finalist here in 2013, losing to Tommy Robredo in the title match. Fognini’s last final came last year in Hamburg, and his last title came early in 2014 in Vina del Mar.