By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, July 22, 2018
Fabio Fognini broke serve five times fighting off Richard Gasquet, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, to capture his seventh career title on the red clay of Båstad.
Photo credit: SkiStar Swedish Open Facebook
"Blurred Lines" blared over the stadium sound system as Fabio Fognini and Richard Gasquet prepared to play a final set for the Båstad title.
A focused Fognini straddled the baseline and hit his way to a seventh career title.
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Fognini broke serve five times fighting off Gasquet, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, to capture his seventh career title on the red clay of Båstad.
"For sure, I'm really happy," Fognini said. "Congratulations Richard for a great week, it's always tough to play against him."
It is Fognini's second career title of the season following his championship run in Sao Paulo.
The third-seeded Italian defeated two former Top 10 players in succession—Fernando Verdasco in the semifinals and Gasquet in the final—raising his record to 31-14 on the season.
All seven of Fognini's championships have come on his favored red clay.
The 15th-ranked Italian defeated Gasquet in their first meeting since the 2013 Monte-Carlo quarterfinals, leveling their head-to-head series at 2-2.
"It was tough for me today," Gasquet said. "Fabio played well. I wanted to play more aggressive.
"I want to congratulate Fabio. He's a very good player. He deserves this victory. For sure, I will come back next year. I will try to win."
Contesting his 31st career final, Gasquet got off to a fast start breaking in the opening game then quickly consolidating against a sluggish opponent.
Stepping closer to the baseline to take the ball on the rise, Fognini came back firing.
The 31-year-old Italian showed impeccable timing and the skill to shorten his backswing on balls right at his feet surging through five straight games forging a 5-2 lead.
On the strength of a slick forehand drop shot and a forehand down the line, Fognini stamped his third consecutive love hold serving out the 22-minute opening set.
One-handed backhand wizard Gasquet showed the full scope on that shot to start the second set. Digging out of a love-40 hole, Gasquet leaped for an electric high backhand smash then watched Fognini's backhand reply catch tape.
The 32-year-old Frenchman held firm opening the second set, but Fognini's timing and skill taking the ball early was troubling Gasquet.
Rarely do you see Gasquet frame shots off that wondrous backhand wing, but Fognini's drives were on him so quickly at times it provoked mis-hits.
A suddenly flat Fognini spit up three double faults in a row, including a foot fault on the third miscue, gifting Gasquet the break and a 3-1 second-set lead.
The theatrical Italian did not implode after the serving snafu. Undaunted, Fognini increased the depth of his drives breaking right back at 30 in the fifth game.
Defending with vigor, Gasquet dug a smash out of the corner and floated a high backhand lob that coaxed a backpedaling Fognini, squinting into the sun, to slap a second smash into net. The third straight break gave Gasquet a 4-2 lead.
A sluggish Fognini slapped a backhand return into net on set point as the fourth-seeded Frenchman forced a decider. By then, both men had won precisely 53 points.
After a bathroom break, Fognini returned refreshed.
The former Australian Open doubles champion broke for 2-0 then breezed through the third game of the final set backing up the break at love.
The twisting topspin of Fognini's forehand rattled out a second break from an erratic Gasquet, who framed a forehand to face triple break point. On his third break point, Fognini hit a flurry of forehands cornering Gasquet on his backhand side before flicking a forehand crosscourt to break for 5-1.
An ace brought Fognini a fourth championship point. When Gasquet sailed one final shot, Fognini closed in one hour, 42 minutes for his second title of the season.
Uncle Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal's former coach and uncle and sometime Fognini verbal sparring partner, presented the Italian with his title trophy.
Spraying champagne around before the customary post-match interview, Fognini didn't have much time to celebrate.
He returned to the court about an hour later to partner Simone Bolelli in the doubles final.