Fabio Fognini Finishes Off Amazing Run To Win • Monte-Carlo Masters Tennis Title

Fabio Fognini of Italy poses with his trophy after winning against Dusan Lajovic of Serbia in their final match of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters tournament in Roquebrune Cap Martin, France, 21 April 2019. EPA-EFE/SEBASTIEN NOGIER

 

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

It’s only fair that anyone who beats Rafael Nadal at a clay-court tournament should be the last man standing.

 

If that’s the case, Fabio Fognini got what he deserved at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

 

Fognini defeated fellow surprise finalist Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 for the biggest title of his career on Sunday afternoon. The 31-year-old converted four of five break-point chances and won 75 percent of his second-serve points while triumphing after one hour and 38 minutes.

 

“I’m really, really happy; nothing (else) to say,” Fognini commented. “I have to keep calm, maybe take a shower, relax, and think about this because it’s something incredible. I just feel happy because I won a big tournament that was always my goal in my career. I think everybody, when you’re growing up and you start and you decide to play tennis, you are dreaming to win a big tournament. We are talking about a Masters.”

 

Overall, it is the Italian’s ninth ATP title. He also became the lowest-seeded player to lift the Monte-Carlo trophy since 1999 (Gustavo Kuerten was also No. 16).

 

“Fabio is a guy who knows how to play in these conditions,” Lajovic noted. “He has great hands. He’s moving really well. So I was feeling on the court that I had to work much harder than him to win the points. I think this was the key. He was pretty stable and solid from both sides. And when I was on and when I was aggressive, I was able to make points and put him under pressure. But at times, my game was just off.

 

“I had a lot of unforced errors. One thing was that it was windy. The other thing was I was under the pressure of the finals, and all together I think he was the much better player today.”

 

The 48th-ranked Serb was competing in his first career ATP final.

 

Fognini and Lajovic will now take their talents to Barcelona and Budapest, respectively. Fognini will face either Federico Delbonis or Nicola Kuhn following a first-round bye in Barca, while Lajovic could run into either Laslo Djere or Ernests Gulbis in the Budapest second round.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.