Karlovic scripts remarkable comeback, Fognini edges past Delbonis

Fognini sidles past Delbonis to win Hamburg Open

Federico Delbonis’s lack of temperament on the big stage proved to be the downer in his loss to Fabio Fognini in the final of the bet-at-home Open in Hamburg, Germany. Delbonis, who had stunned Roger Federer yesterday in an excellent display of tennis, seemed to carry forward his form to the final. Delbonis won a tightly-contested first set 6-4, and managed to drag the second set to a tiebreak.

Fognini, who had won his first career title last week at Stuttgart, clawed his way back in the tiebreak, saving three match points before winning it 7-6(10-8). He then got a very early break in the third set, going up 3-0 and then 5-2.

Delbonis’s final service game reflected the entire match; it was a microcosm of what had transpired. Delbonis went up 40-0, then served poorly and dropped down to deuce. At deuce, Delbonis made wild unforced errors to lose the third set, and the match. Fognini fell to his knees in triumph, winning a marathon final 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-2.

Fognini’s remarkable run of late is amusing considering the fact that in his first nine years on tour, he had won a grand total of zero titles; but in the last two weeks, he has won two!

Delbonis started out amazingly, saving all five break points he faced in the first set, displaying some gorgeous tennis. Fognini then broke Delbonis in the first game of the second set, but Delbonis steeled himself and won four games in a row to lead 4-1. HOwever, nerves caught up to him and Fognini scratched his way back to 4-4.

In the tiebreaker, Delbonis had match points at 6-5, 7-6 and 8-7. At 6-5, he only had to hit an easy volley to win his first career title, but bungled it and lost the point. Delbonis’s lack of experience hurt him today, but as he progresses, he will improve his clutch tennis and become a better player.