Fognini beats Thiem in Rome
Dominic Thiem is back from injury playing at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, but lost to the Italian Fabio Fognini in the Opener on Monday.
Austrian tennis player Dominic Thiem has been playing well in the ATP Tour after spending nine months out of the sport due to a wrist injury, but now he’s dropped to 0-4. On Monday’s Opener at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, Thiem was bested by Italian local Fabio Fognini.
Fognini knocked out a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over Thiem, improving to 2-3 in his ATP Head2Head with the Austrian. This would be his first win in Rome since 2019.
Fognini served and held a match point of 5-4 just before Thiem broke on his seventh break point of the night. With a strong forehand return, Thiem held off the match point and got a love hold, but Fognini answered with the same move, forcing a tie-break. After that, Fognini was in the lead to stay.
“I was hoping to break him there and get things going even better for me,” said Thiem. “The tie-break was not good for me. Obviously in the tie-break you get a little bit tighter. That’s where the forehand is still not there when things are getting tighter. That’s the way it is now.”
Fognini won 81 percent of points he gained in attacking advantage and 37 percent of defensive points in his matchup against Thiem.
“It’s never easy playing against a great champion,” said Fognini. “Happy to be here and another chance to play in this great atmosphere.”