Five-Set Fabio: Fognini Saves M.P. In All-Italian Thriller

  • Posted: Feb 11, 2021

Fabio Fognini is no stranger to five-set matches. The Italian has contested 36 of them throughout his career (23-13), which now includes seven encounters at the Australian Open.

Fognini stepped onto John Cain Arena on Thursday holding a three-match winning streak in five-set clashes at the opening major championship of the year, and he extended that run to four victories by saving match point to overcome countryman Salvatore Caruso 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(12).

With neither player able to break serve in a fifth set which lasted 85 minutes, Fognini and Caruso required a Match Tie-break to decide the outcome of the match. Fognini trailed 1/5 in the match decider and saved match point at 10/11 with patience in an extended baseline rally.

The 16th seed made the crucial breakthrough at 12/12, as he charged behind the baseline and ripped a cross-court backhand passing shot winner to earn his fourth match point. Fognini fired a powerful serve out wide to clinch victory after three hours and 56 minutes.

“I am tired as I was fighting for every point,” said Fognini, in an on-court interview.. “I had chances in the fifth set, two at 15/40 [in the seventh and 11th games]. I played one really bad, then the other he served well. I was lucky in the Match Tie-break. When you play against a compatriot it’s always tough. I gave everything until the end. I was 1/5 down, then he played two bad points. At 5/5, anything was possible and I held on.”

Fognini has become an expert at surviving fifth-set Match Tie-breaks at the Australian Open. Since the tournament changed its match-ending format in 2019, the Italian has entered a fifth-set Match Tie-break on three occasions. He owns a 3-0 record in those matches. Fognini’s previous two wins in this format came in his opening two matches of last year’s event. The 33-year-old outlasted Reilly Opelka and Jordan Thompson en route to the fourth round.

If Fognini is to make it that far in Melbourne this year, he will need to get past Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur in the third round. De Minaur advanced to the third round for the second time in Melbourne with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 win against Pablo Cuevas. The 21st seed won 86 per cent of his first-serve points (44/51) to advance in one hour and 58 minutes.

“Pablo is a very skilled, veteran player and I had to be on my top game to get through tonight,” said De Minaur, in an on-court interview. “I am very happy with how I maintained my focus throughout the whole match. I played some great quality tennis and yet again, I am happy to be back.”

De Minaur has equalled his best Australian Open result by reaching the third round. The 21-year-old also made it to the third round in 2019, when he lost in straight sets to 2009 champion Rafael Nadal. De Minaur missed last year’s event with an abdominal injury.

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