By Chris Oddo | Friday September 28, 2018
Fabio Fognini moved closer to a fourth title of 2018 with a 6-4, 6-2 takedown of Australia's Matthew Ebden.
Photo Source: Chengdu Open
Sizzling like a spicy clay pot full of noodles and seafood, Italy’s Fabio Fognini sauntered into the Chengdu Open semifinals with a routine win over Australia’s Matthew Ebden, 6-4, 6-2.
Playing at a career-high ranking of 13, the top-seeded Italian needed just 66 minutes to book his seventh ATP semifinal of 2018—he’ll face American Taylor Fritz for a spot in the final on Saturday.
The 31-year-old earns his 39th victory of the season and is now just three shy of his career-best total of 42, notched in 2013.
Fognini has already won titles in Sao Paulo, Bastad and Los Cabos, and he’ll face Fritz for the first time.
The 21-year-old American took out Sam Querrey 7-6(1), 7-5, to reach his third career ATP semifinal. The World No.62 improves to 19-13 on the season with his 13-ace performance against his compatriot.
Portugal’s Joao Sousa and Australia’s Bernard Tomic will contest Saturday’s other semifinal. Sousa got past Malek Jaziri, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, while Tomic ended the run of Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-2, 6-4.
Tomic owns a 3-0 lifetime edge of Sousa.