Dominic Thiem failed at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome already at his first appearance. The 24-year-old from Lichtenwörth lost to Fabio Fognini in three sets.
Playing against Fabio Fognini in Italy is not an easy, but not an impossible task. Lucas Pouille, for example, proved this in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Genoa, while Dominic Thiem was due for the test at Campo Centrale in Foro Italico on Wednesday afternoon.
However, Dominic Thiem lost to local hero Fognini in the second round of Rome: Austria’s number one lost 4:6, 6:1 and 3:6 after just over two hours of play.
Apart from the Italian’s home advantage, Thiem was the favourite in the match at the Campo Centrale: The Austrian had won both games so far: in Munich in 2015 and last year in Cincinnati. And never more than three games per set. Like Thiem, Fognini had come to Rome in 2018 with the recommendation of a tournament victory, the Italian had won in Sao Paolo, Thiem in Buenos Aires.
The Italian got off to a better start, quickly leading 3-1 and 4-2, Thiem equalled in the eighth game. But immediately lost his serve again, had to give up set one after 40 minutes with 4:6.
In the second set, it was the Austrian who dictated the match, Fognini’s service 2-0 and also 4-0. 24 minutes later, it was Thiem who equalised the sets 6-1. Also because the Austrian reduced his own mistakes to five, but Fognini offered 15 of them.
It became really close in the decision for the first time in the fourth game, when Thiem could not use some game balls before the eyes of chief coach Günter Bresnik and girlfriend Kristina Mladenovic – and still equalized to 2:2. This service game of the Lower Austrian lasted longer than eight minutes.
But Fognini was now at the trigger as a recoil, gaining several break chances – also because he seemed to fly over the court again in the best manner. Thiem remained firm, equalized to 3:3. For his part, however, missed two opportunities for a break for the 4-3 next game, this time again opportunities for Fognini. And the second was used by the Italian, set to 5:3 and used his third match point after 2:04 hours for his first win against Thiem.
My next opponent has already been determined: Peter Gojowczyk had Lorenzo Sonego under control late on Tuesday evening after Sam Querrey. For the man from Dachau, the move into the round of 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome is already a success.
Here the single tableau in Rome