Fognini, not just Rio: all his businesses in South America

It is an inexhaustible feeling that binds Fabio Fognini to tournaments in South America and this is demonstrated by the excellent performance provided in tonight’s victorious match against the Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta (world number 18). A victory among the most beautiful of the Ligurian’s entire career that brings to mind many other successes obtained in the Latin continent.

The first victories

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The first ATP tournament played by Fabio Fognini in South America was in Buenos Aires in 2006 when as number 312 in the world (after passing the qualifiers) he put none other than Carlos Moya (then number 34) on the ropes, surrendering 6-7 6 -4 6-4 after 2 hours and 23 minutes of fighting.

The first match won instead in an ATP main draw in 2008 in Vina del Mar when from number 104 in the world he overtook the Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela (No. 25) for 7-6 6-2. In that tournament Fabio went all the way to the quarterfinals lost to Santiago Ventura and two weeks later in the Costa Do Sauipe tournament he reached the semifinal surrendering with a double 6-1 to Nicolas Almagro.

Four finals

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In his career Fabio has played 19 ATP finals and of these 4 have been in South America: the first in Vina del Mar in 2014 when he overtook Aljaz Bedene, Jeremy Chardy, Nicolas Almagro and Leonardo Mayer for 6-2 6-4 in the final. One week, in Buenos Aires, Fabio tried to repeat himself by beating Julian Reister in the first round, Leonardo Mayer in the second, Pablo Andujar in the quarterfinals and Tommy Robredo in the semifinals, but in the final he surrendered 6-4 6-3 to David Ferrer. The third final in South America in 2015 in Rio de Janiero when Fabio beat Jiri Vesely in the first round, Pablo Andujar in the second, Federico Delbonis in the quarterfinals and Rafael Nadal (then number 3 in the world) for 1-6 6-2 7-5 in the semifinal in 2 hours and 18 minutes. In the match that was worth the title, the Ligurian lost 6-2 6-3 to David Ferrer. Finally, the fourth final in South America in Sao Paulo in Brazil in 2018: in that tournament Fognini beat Domingues in the first round, Garcia Lopez in the quarterfinals, Pablo Cuevas in the semifinals and Nicolas Jarry for 1-6 6-1 6-4 in the final.

Against the top 10

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Carreno Busta is the fifth top 20 beaten by Fognini in South America after Wawrinka (Acapulco 2013), Almagro (Vina del Mar 2014), Robredo (Buenos Aires 2014) and Nadal (Rio 2015). Nor should we forget the Davis Cup performances provided by Fognini in South America: in Mar del Plata in 2014 he signed the three historic points of a 3-1 success over Argentina by beating Juan Monaco, then winning the double together with Bolelli and overcoming Berlocq. in the first singular of the last day. In February 2017 he decided the challenge in Buenos Aires, overcoming Guido Pella in the fifth match 6-2 to the fifth.