Fognini wins 1st ATP title in Stuttgart
Photo credit: AP | Italian Fabio Fognini celebrates after he won his final match against German Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Mercedes Cup ATP tennis tournament in Stuttgart, Germany Sunday July 14, 2013. Fabio Fognini came from behind to beat second-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in three sets in the final of the ATP Mercedes Cup on Sunday for his first career title. The fifth-seeded Italian won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 on the sun-drenched clay court after taking a decisive 4-1 lead in the final set. (AP Photo/dpa,Daniel Bockwoldt)
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STUTTGART, Germany - (AP) -- Fabio Fognini rallied beat second-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the ATP Mercedes Cup on Sunday for his first career title.
The fifth-seeded Italian won on the sun-drenched clay court after taking a 4-1 lead in the final set.
Fognini lost his first two career finals last year and went into the match with a 0-2 record against Kohlschreiber. Although he could not capitalize on an early break in the first set, Fognini took a 3-1 lead in the second. Kohlschreiber saved four set points in the eighth game before Fognini served out the set.
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Fognini led 4-1 before dropping serve in the third. He held on and became the first Italian champion in Stuttgart.
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