Fabio Fognini’s Semifinal Defeat Ends Hopes of ATP Final Appearance

Disappointing Defeat for Fabio Fognini in Metz Semifinals

Despite his efforts, Fabio Fognini (currently ranked 130th in the world) failed to break his streak and secure a spot in the finals. It has been over four and a half years since Fognini last played an ATP level final, even though he clinched his main title at the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters 1000. Unfortunately, in his recent match against Ugo Humbert (ranked 23rd), Fognini suffered a crushing defeat with a score of 6-0 and 6-2 in Metz.

A Tough Loss for Fognini

The immensely talented yet temperamental 36-year-old Fognini, who once reached the Top 10 in the world rankings, had displayed his dominance by defeating fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego (ranked in the Top 50) in the quarterfinals held in Metz, France. However, Fognini’s inconsistent performance on the professional circuit was no match for the left-handed Humbert.

A One-Sided Match

In a match lasting one hour and seven minutes, Fognini faced an overwhelming defeat without any respite. This semifinal was a crucial opportunity for Fognini to reach his first final since his triumph at Monte-Carlo, but Humbert proved to be a formidable opponent. Humbert delivered eight aces compared to Fognini’s two, won 88% of points with his first serve while Fognini managed only 51%, and Fognini’s second serve success rate was a mere 24%. Furthermore, Fognini failed to convert any break points, while Humbert capitalized on five out of the 11 chances he created on Fognini’s serve.

A Significant Setback for Fognini

This defeat, where Fognini only won two games, marks his biggest loss in over a year. The previous wide-margin defeat occurred in October of the previous year when he fell to Pablo Carreño Busta from Spain in Naples, Italy, during the round of 16 with a score of 6-1 and 6-1, also on a hard surface.

Humbert to Face Shevchenko in the Final

In the final showdown in Metz, Ugo Humbert will go head-to-head against Alexander Shevchenko from Russia. This will be their first official encounter, adding an element of anticipation to the match.