By Chris Oddo | Saturday, July 12, 2014
Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Fabio Fognini in Stuttgart, and will bid for is second title in Sunday's final.
Photo Source: AP
Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut continued his run of fine play in 2014 by upsetting defending champion Fabio Fognini at the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, 6-3, 6-4, in 74 minutes.
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Fognini, who won his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart by defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber in last year’s final, had his winning streak at the event snapped at seven matches with the loss.
The Spaniard was leading 4-1 before a 40-minute rain delay, and picked up right where he left off upon returning to the court to snap a three-match losing streak against the Italian.
Bautista Agut, who began the season at No. 59 in the world, will bid for his second title of the season in Sunday’s final when he faces Lukas Rosol.
Rosol took down second-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, 7-6(3), 6-2, to reach his second final of 2014. The world No. 48 also won the Prague Challenger last month, defeating Czech Jiri Vesely in the final.
The 26-year-old Bautista Agut improves his record to 31-15 on the season, while Rosol rises to 18-16.
Rosol and Bautista Agut will meet for the first time on Sunday.