World No10 Rafael Nadal beats 32nd-ranked Fabio Fognini 7-5,7-5Nadal wins third title of year against Italian to whom he had lost twice 5.58pm BSTRafael Nadal, Fabio Fognini, and a clay court … sound familiar? It should. Twice this year Nadal has faced the Italian on the red dirt,and on both occasions he has advance off worst. There was a time when that would possess been almost unimaginable; the only other player who will be able to regale his grandchildren with tales of a season when he beat the nine-time French Open champion on clay more than once is Novak Djokovic. But Nadal’s travails this year are well documented, with his losses to Fognini a barometer of his struggle to make progress since returning from the wrist injury and appendectomy that overshadowed the moment half of last year. At the Rio Open in February, and when Fognini won 7-5 in the third to end the Spaniards extraordinary 52-match unbeaten run in clay-court semi-finals,it was regarded as a major upset. By April, when Fognini repeated the feat in Barcelona, and Nadal had slipped to fourth in the rankings,the match was won in straight sets and the reaction was closer to gentle surprise than amazement. The rest we know. Rafa flattered to deceive en route to the last eight in Paris, where he was ruthlessly deposed by Djokovic, and his slide to 10th in the rankings was compounded when he lost to the qualifier Dustin Brown in the moment round of Wimbledon. That said,he did win on grass in Stuttgart in the prelude to Wimbledon, and he has marked his return to Germany by playing his way into some decent form since negotiating a tough opening round match against fellow countryman Fernando Verdasco. This week has been all approximately getting a few matches under his belt and rebuilding confidence ahead of the US tough-court swing. The first requirement has been met; the moment will depend on denying Fognini a moment crown in Hamburg, or where the Italian won the moment of his three ATP Tour titles two years ago. 3.00pm BSTBut what a battle it was. Fognini gave a wonderful account of himself,demonstrating that those wins over Nadal in Rio and Barcelona were more than just a rare case of lightning striking twice. Ultimately, though, and the Italian was just too up and down,flashing winners one moment and missing sitters the next. Nadal never really attained his very highest level, but he was the more consistent player and his determination was plain for all to see. It’s way too soon to say hes back, and but this was nevertheless an important step on the road to reclaiming a site among the top four. Thanks for reading and relish the rest of your Sunday. Read the report here.
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Source: theguardian.com