Rome (AFP)
The French Ugo Humbert (25th in the world) qualified Thursday for the 8th final of the Masters 1000 in Rome by dominating the Italian Fabio Fognini, seeded N.7, in two contested heats (7-5, 7-6 ).
With less than two weeks of Roland-Garros exceptionally rescheduled in the fall, the 22-year-old Frenchman made the difference by his composure in the end of tense sets, especially in the final tie-break where he repeatedly pushed to the fault of the 33-year-old Italian.
Fognini, winner of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 in 2019, is in search of playing time after his two ankle surgery in May, taking advantage of the interruption of competitions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In Rome, where he was making his debut after being exempted from the 1st round, the Italian suffered his second defeat since his return, after his elimination last week in the 2nd round of the Kitzbühel tournament.
Humbert will meet in the round of 16 Canadian Denis Shapovalov, 21, seeded N.12, who qualified at the expense of Spaniard Pedro Martinez (6-4, 6-4).
© 2020 AFP