Spaniard Tommy Robredo won second title this year and 12th
overall as impressive run of Fabio Fognini came to an end in Vegeta
Croatia Open final.
Robredo won by 6:0, 6:3 in just 62 minutes, equalling the shortest
Umag final in terms of games played. Russian Nikolay Davydenko
defeated Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero by 6:3, 6:0 in 2009
final.
Fognini had personal-best 13 consecutive victories prior to final,
after winning his maiden title in Stuttgart two weeks ago and
adding Hamburg last Sunday.
"No money can buy this feeling. I played perfect match. Did great
job, but in matches like this it is always important to win",
Robredo said.
First set lasted 18 minutes only and Robredo lost only six points.
Fognini came up at the beginning of the second set, breaking
Robredo twice, but serve remained his big problem throughout the
match. He kept servy only once, trailing 2:3 in the second
set.
Robredo broke again for 5:3 lead and had no problems serving for
the match.
Earlier this year Robredo won in Casablanca and eleven out of 12
titles he won came on claycourt. He came in Umag as Nr. 28 on ATP
singles rankings.
This is the 10th time that Spanish player won singles title in 24
years of the event. Carlos Moya holds record with five crowns in
Umag. Alberto Berasategui, Felix Mantilla, Fernando Verdasco and
Juan Carlos Ferrero won one title each.
This was the fourth time that Italian player reached singles final
in Umag and lost. Before Fognini, Filippo Volandri was runner-up
twice (in 2003 and 2004) and Potito Starace once (in 2010).
"Probably too many matches behind me. And no match tonight. I had
no power, still he deserved to win. I am dissapointed, but I played
three incredible weeks, it will stay in my memory for my whole
life", Fognini said.
