Fognini Wins First Title in Stuttgart

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Fognini Wins First Title in Stuttgart

By Chris Oddo

(July 14, 2013) -- Fabio Fognini became the ATP's second maiden title winner, and the sixth of the season, on Sunday with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Mercedes cup in Stuttgart, Germany.

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The fifth-seeded Italian notched his first victory over Kohlschreiber in three career matches by outplaying him from the baseline and out-steadying him on the big points.

Three of Kohlschreiber's four career titles and six of his 10 career finals have come on home soil, and it was Kohlschreiber who drew first blood in the first set on Sunday. Neither player seemed to want to take the advantage early, as they traded breaks for four consecutive games in the early going. But Kohlschreiber would break through with Fognini serving to stay alive in the set, as the Italian's surprise serve-and-volley attempt went awry.

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But in the second set, Fognini would pick up his game and start to pressure Kohlschreiber. He would fail on four set points while leading 5-3 in the second set, but in the ensuing game he served out the set to level the match at one set apiece.

As the match wore on, Fognini seemed to get the better of the rallies with Kohlschreiber. He was content to stay well behind the baseline, moving and defending, and attacking only when the percentages favored him.

It was a strategy that would suit him well as Kohlschreiber's game loosened down the stretch.

Fognini, who converted on five of 15 break point opportunities on the afternoon, took a double break lead in the third set, and while Kohlschreiber pushed back to regain one of the breaks, Fognini served the match out to close the affair in two hours and six minutes.

The 26-year-old has played all three of his career finals on clay. In 2012 he dropped finals in Bucharest and in St. Petersburg.

The number two Italian reached his first Masters semifinal in Monte Carlo previously this year.

Kohlschreiber drops to 4-6 in career finals with the loss.

In addition to 74,000 Euros in prize money, Fognini will drive home in a brand new white Mercedes Benz A 45 Amg "Edition 1."

(Photo Credit: AP)