Fabio Fognini, the former world No. 9, has made history by reaching the second week of Wimbledon for the first time in his career. The 37-year-old Italian, now ranked No. 94, defeated No. 8 seed Casper Ruud in a thrilling four-set battle, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3.
Fognini's victory marks his first Top 10 win since the 2023 French Open and his first at Wimbledon since 2010. It also extends his streak of reaching the second week at every major except Wimbledon.
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Ruud rallying from 2-5 down in the third set and saving a match point to force a tiebreak. However, Fognini remained composed and eventually broke Ruud's serve in the fourth set to seal the victory.
Fognini's success at Wimbledon is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite being an underdog, he has consistently performed well on the grass courts of the All England Club. In 2010, he reached the third round for the first time and came close to making the round of 16 in 2014.
Fognini's victory over Ruud is a major upset and has sent shockwaves through the Wimbledon draw. He will now face either compatriot Lorenzo Sonego or former semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.
Ruud, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have exited Wimbledon so early. The Norwegian was bidding to reach the third round for the first time in five attempts. He will now turn his attention to clay, where he is scheduled to play Bastad and Kitzbuhel in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics.
Tags: #FabioFognini, #Wimbledon, #CasperRuud, #Top10Win, #ItalianTennis
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