Monte Carlo (Principality of Monaco) (AFP) - Colourful Fabio Fognini defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 to win the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, the first Italian to triumph at the clay court showpiece in over half a century. The 13th seed, based just 20 kilometres over the border in San Remo, followed on from compatriot Nicola Pietrangeli, who watched his record fall from the royal box at the Monte Carlo Country Club. Pietrangeli won the trophy in the principality in 1961, 1967 and 1968. He came to the court after the trophy ceremony to pose for pictures with his new tennis heir, who was following up his shock semi-final win over 11-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal. "I was born nearby so this is extraordinary," Fognini, 31, said. "I started the season rather badly, so this is unbelievable. I'm very content with this victory, especially with all of the Italians here today." The 48th-ranked Serb Lajovic was playing in the first ATP final of his career and got to the title match without the loss of a set. Fognini looked to be temporarily hampered as he limped momentarily after breaking Lajovic for 3-2 in the second after claiming the opening set in 44 minutes. During a medical timeout, he was taped on his right thigh and a heel, but carried on without apparent problems as he finished the final on his second match point as Lajovic returned long. The winner of his first Masters 1000 trophy came to the first major week of the pre-Roland Garros run-up with a 0-4 record on the clay, the surface he grew up on. Among his victims this week was number three Alexander Zverev, and his stunning stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nadal on Saturday to end the Spanish star's 25-set win streak in the principality. "This is something just incredible," added Fognini who had been a set and 4-1 down to Andrey Rublev in his tournament opener. "I'm really tired now, I've been running all week. I prepared for this final as best I could, I knew it would be tough, since Dusan has my ex-coach (Jose Perlas). Story continues He added: "This is a great achievement, but it's tough to beat Rafa and then play a final." Lajovic was playing his first career ATP final and was far from crushed by defeat. "It was my first time in the finals, so a great experience for me. Today was not easy, there was a lot of wind. "Fabio is a guy who knows how to play in these conditions. He has great hands, he's moving really well."<doc-sep>MONACO (AP) - Fabio Fognini won the biggest title of his career after beating Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 Sunday in the Monte Carlo Masters final. The Italian's first title of the year was his ninth overall but first at Masters level. It came the day after he stunned defending champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets, becoming the first player to beat Nadal here since Novak Djokovic in the 2015 semifinals. Lajovic's run to his first career final was unexpected. But the unseeded Serb rarely threatened in humid, overcast and slightly windy conditions. Fognini needed a medical timeout to receive treatment to his right foot and right thigh after the fifth game of the second set. But it did not impede him as he served out the match, clinching victory on his second match point when Lajovic hit forehand wide.<doc-sep>VALERY HACHE/Getty Images Fabio Fognini took the biggest event of his career yet Sunday, beating the unseeded Dusan Lajovic in the final of the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters. Set scores were 6-3, 6-4. Fognini dominated the majority of the rallies, and while Lajovic put up a good fight for stretches, he lacked the consistency to threaten the Italian. A minor injury also couldn't slow down the 31-year-old, who shocked 11-time Monte Carlo Masters champion Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals. It's Fognini's first ever Masters 1000 title. Lajovic started the final using the same strategy he used against Daniil Medvedev on Saturday, patiently slicing away and waiting for Fognini to make mistakes. It led to an early break in the third game, in part thanks to a sensational cross-court winner from the Serb, but Fognini answered right back with some solid baseline play of his own. The level of play was incredibly high in the early stages, with the two serving up some amazing rallies: Video Play Button Videos you might like But it was Fognini who appeared to have the upper hand whenever the rallies lasted beyond a few groundstrokes. The Italian blasted his way past Nadal with some excellent winners, and he picked up where he left off against Lajovic, earning himself another break with much of the same. Per tennis writer Carole Bouchard, Lajovic wasn't helping matters with some poor decision-making: Up 4-2, Fognini continued his fine play from the baseline, relying on his serve to close out the first set. Lajovic did well to cut out some of the mistakes from his game and managed to hold serve the rest of the way, but while he pushed for a break in the ninth game, it was the Italian who secured the advantage after the first set. Per Tennis TV, it marked Lajovic's first lost set of the tournament: Fognini carried his momentum straight into the next set, breaking serve after some good back-and-forths between the two. But just as Lajovic seemed ready to wilt under the pressure, the Serb bounced back from a poor backhand to hit two excellent winners and break right back. Here is one of those winners: The two continued to go blow for blow until Fognini secured yet another break, this time in the fifth game. He required medical attention immediately after, however: The injury didn't appear to bother him too much in the next game, however, as Fognini held serve. He would cruise the rest of the way, once again serving out the set to grab his first Masters 1000 title.<doc-sep>Fabio Fognini’s breakthrough win at the Monte Carlo Masters is another first-time Masters title for an ATP player. Since 2016, there have been nine first-time Masters 1000 winners, including Dominic Thiem’s win over Roger Federer at Indian Wells this year, making two out of three Masters events this year with new names. Just last year, Karen Khachanov won the Paris Masters event, John Isner won Miami, and Juan Martin del Potro won Indian Wells. 2017 featured three first-time breakthrough winners with the names Alexander Zverev (Rome), Grigor Dimitrov (Cincinnati), and Jack Sock (Paris). Marin Cilic was the singular new name in 2016, winning his maiden Cincinnati title. All the other names on the board since 2005 mostly read Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. It’s been a frustrating sport for male tennis talents with the likes of the Big Four retaining a stranglehold on major titles and accolades. Talented players such as Fabio Fognini have had their chances, of course, and have certainly gotten close, but have so often had to relinquish the final score to one of the big titans, that it almost seems inevitable when one of the players faces them. But on Saturday, April 20, Fabio Fognini made his own page in history, by defeating the legendary Rafa Nadal, at the Monte Carlo Masters tournament the “king of clay” has won a record 11 times. In fact, he almost bageled him in the second set, but the great fighter Nadal was able to recover enough to get two games on the scoreboard before succumbing to reality, 6-4, 6-2. Fognini has always been known for his prodigious talent, but he’s also equally known for his flashing tempter. The expected follow-up performance was to see the Italian perhaps buckle under the pressure of his next match against Dusan Lajovic. Instead, fans were again treated to a measured, disciplined Fabio Fognini, who powered through the match with a gloriously efficient and beautifully aggressive play, maintaining the form even after sustaining a slight injury in the final match. “It has been an incredible week, I will keep working,” Fognini said according to ABC News: “I started the season badly, so this is unbelievable”. Fabio Fognini has moved up to a career high of No. 12, just outside the Top 10, for the first time. Still, the Big Three—namely Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—have managed to preserve their stronghold on the majors. Next up is the French Open, which Federer will enter for the first time in three years. Nadal will be gunning for an awe-inspiring 12th, although perhaps with his recent knee troubles, he’s not a 100 percent given, probably still is. Novak Djokovic seems to be in a slump. With the breakthrough win over Lajovic on Sunday—the first Italian to win a Masters 1000—Fognini will be one of the few players in contention to score an upset. Cheering him on in the audience at the Monte Carlo final was the last Italian man to win at Roland Garros, 85-year-old Nicola Pietrangeli (1959 and 1960). If the Fabio Fognini who showed up in Monte Carlo appears at Roland Garros, there’s a good bet that the clay-court talent has a chance.<doc-sep>
Italy’s Fabio Fognini thrilled a crowd composed mainly of his countrymen as he defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 to win the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday. The 13th seed based just 20 kilometres over the border in San Remo, became the first from Italy to lift a trophy here in 51 years, following on from Nicola Pietrangeli, who watched his record fall from the royal box at the Monte Carlo Country Club. Pietrangeli won the trophy in the principality in 1961, 1967 and 1968. He came to the court after the trophy ceremony to pose for pictures with his new tennis heir, who was following up his shock semi-final win over 11-time Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal. “I was born nearby so this is extraordinary,” Fognini, 31, said. “I started the season rather badly, so this is unbelievable. I’m very content with this victory, especially with all of the Italians here today.” The 48th-ranked Serb Lajovic was playing in the first ATP final of his career and got to the title match without the loss of a set. Fognini looked to be temporarily hampered as he limped momentarily after breaking Lajovic for 3-2 in the second after claiming the opening set in 44 minutes. During a medical timeout, he was taped on his right thigh and a heel, but carried on without apparent problems as he finished the final on his second match point as Lajovic returned long. The winner of his first Masters 1000 trophy came to the first major week of the pre-Roland Garros run-up with a 0-4 record on the clay, the surface he grew up on. Among his victims this week was number three Alexander Zverev, and his stunning stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory over Nadal on Saturday to end the Spanish star’s 25-set win streak in the principality.