Fabulous Fabio Fognini takes out Dusan Lajovic to win Monte-Carlo Masters
Fabio Fognini has done it! He has become the first Italian to win an ATP Masters 1000 trophy after beating Dusan Lajovic in the Monte-Carlo Masters final.
The 31-year-old ended his glorious week in the Principality with a 6-4, 6-3 victory in one hour and 36 minutes over Lajovic on Sunday.
🏆 CAMPIONE! 🇮🇹
The moment @fabiofogna became the first Italian to win a Masters 1000 singles title by beating Dusan Lajovic 6-3 6-4#RolexMCMasters pic.twitter.com/Pzn9aK1r8k
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 21, 2019
Fognini entered the final on the back of a brilliant semi-final win over 11-time champion Rafael Nadal and he followed it up with another excellent display in the showpiece match.
Lajovic had the early initiative as he broke in game three, but the Italian hit back with a double break in games four and six as he raced to a one-set lead.
The second set started with consecutive breaks of serve before Fognini claimed the decisive break in game five.
At 31, he becomes the second-oldest player after John Isner (32) to win a first ATP Masters 1000 title, the first Italian to win a Masters trophy since the format was introduced in 1990s and the first Italian since 1968 to win in Monte-Carlo.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
More from Tennis365:
-
-
EXCLUSIVE – Clare Balding: Fed Cup success can inspire a boom in the women’s game
-
EXCLUSIVE – Judy Murray: I have no regrets over quitting Fed Cup role
-
Analysis: Grigor Dimitrov’s apparent endless decline down to struggles of identity, not quality
-
T365 Recall: When the pirate-pants wearing Rafael Nadal came of age on clay
-
Should David Ferrer’s sublime Miami showing prompt retirement rethink?
-
Latest
-
WimbledonWimbledon day four: Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal battle on
Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady won on Thursday to keep the British flag flying.
-
WimbledonAlex De Minaur joins girlfriend Katie Boulter in Wimbledon third round
The 20-year-old won the first set on Court One but fell to a 5-7 7-6 (0) 6-2 6-3 defeat.
-
WimbledonRafael Nadal at Wimbledon: ‘Every day is a challenge’
Rafael Nadal is prepared to grind his way into the second week at SW19.
-
NewsIga Swiatek made to sweat to progress at Wimbledon and extend streak
Karolina Pliskova was the big seed to exit the women’s draw on Thursday while Kirsten Flipkens bowed out.
-
WimbledonNick Kyrgios has the belief he can win Wimbledon
Nick Kyrgios believes in himself even if nobody else does.
-
WimbledonExclusive – John Lloyd on the key reason for the stunning form of Katie Boulter and British players at Wimbledon
The stunning success of British players at Wimbledon contunued as Katie Boulter, Heather Watson and Liam Broady all won.
-
WimbledonHeather Watson ‘pretty relaxed’ as she looks to break new ground at Wimbledon
This is Heather Watson’s fourth time in the Wimbledon third round.
-
WimbledonLiam Broady hails ‘amazing feeling’ after beating Diego Schwartzman for biggest win of his career
The British No 5 lost 11 games in a row but fought back to down the 12th seed.
-
WimbledonKyle Edmund set to end 18-month injury nightmare with Wimbledon mixed doubles appearance
The former world No 14 will play mixed doubles in SW19.
-
WimbledonWimbledon Centre Court delight for Katie Boulter and home crowd as she upsets Karolina Pliskova
Katie Boulter reached the third round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.