Fognini Reaches Milestone Win In Sao Paulo
Fifth seed Fabio Fognini celebrated a milestone 250th victory on Tuesday at the Brasil Open in Sao Paulo. The Italian beat compatriot Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 7-6(4) in one hour and 35 minutes to advance to the second round.
Fognini, who reached the semi-finals here in 2008, was nearly untouchable on his first serve, winning almost 80 per cent of those points. He will next face another Italian qualifier in Alessandro Giannessi, who dismissed home favourite Rogerio Dutra Silva of Brazil 6-4, 6-3.
In an under-20 battle, #NextGenATP player Casper Ruud of Norway beat 19-year-old Akira Santillan of Japan 6-4, 6-4. The 18-year-old Ruud, who reached the semi-finals in Rio last week, will meet seventh-seeded Argentine Federico Delbonis in the second round. Delbonis beat 24-year-old Slovakian Jozef Kovalik 6-4, 7-6(5).
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