Montecarlo, Fognini stops with Ruud in two sets

The reigning champion loses 6-4 6-3, the 22-year-old Norwegian who had already beaten him twice goes to the semifinals. The other semifinal will be Tsitsipas-Evans

Fabio Fognini’s run towards the confirmation of the title crashes against the solidity of Casper Ruud. The Norwegian overtook the defending champion in two sets 6-4 6-3 and tomorrow in the semifinals he finds the winner of the match between Rublev and Nadal on the pitch tonight. The other semifinal will be tomorrow between Stefanos Tsitsipas, who passed through the retirement of Davidovich Fokina after a set, and Daniel Evans who got the better of David Goffin.

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It matches

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First set balanced, with the Norwegian, who will turn 23 in December having to defend 5 break points in the fifth game at 2-2. Ruud and the earth have a special feeling, so much so that last year it was he who eliminated Matteo Berrettini in the quarterfinals of the Internationals last year, reaching what was his best career result up to now.

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And the sorrow for the blue cheer comes right at the end of the first set with Fabio conceding a decisive ball and Ruud closing the lead 6-4. The second set did not start better with Fabio who immediately lost the serve to zero with three forehand errors and allowed the Norwegian to stretch up to 3-0. When the serve returns to Fognini, it seems that the situation can straighten out, but Fabio finds himself 40-0 to have to save three break points for Ruud. Immediately after, the Norwegian concedes three balls for the counterbreak to Fognini who this time does not distract himself and brings the set back into balance. Fabio still trembles in the very dangerous seventh game, where from 40-0 he still finds himself under a break. Ruud serves for the match, Fognini tries to resist and takes the lead 0-30, but the Norwegian, 11 years younger, reacts by winning the match and consequently the second Masters 1000 semifinal in his career: “It was a great challenge and has a very insidious tennis – said the Norwegian -. I am satisfied with how I always stayed in the game, making him play every ball even when he was ahead ”. In the race to the final he will find a very tough player on the road, the choice is between the player who has won the most games this year and the undisputed king of the earth.

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