2020 ATP Marrakech Open: Krajinovic takes out top seed, now faces Fognini in final
WORLD number 29, Filip Krajinovic has claimed a massive upset win over top 10 player and number one seed, Alexander Zverev. The Serbian fifth seed took out the German young gun in straight sets to advance through to the final of the 2020 Marrakech Open fantasy tennis tournament. He now takes on second seed, Fabio Fognini following the Italian’s come-from-behind win over sixth seed Argentinian, Guido Pella in the other semi-final.
Krajinovic knew he would have his work cut out for him against Zverev who was pushing hard to try and squeeze into the top five players in the world. Starting off as an even contest, Krajinovic won a crucial break late in the first set to take an advantage and hold serve to win it 6-4.
The second set was similar but in an opposite way. Immediately, Krajinovic broke his opponent and went 2-0 up to have Zverev on the back foot. The German’s serving was inconsistent, and while it got better over time, it was too little, too late. Krajinovic’s serving on the other hand was superb, and could not be dented as that first game break saw him hold on for a memorable 6-4 6-4 victory.
In the other semi-final, second seed and world number 11, Fognini was not looking good early. Pella had him on the ropes after breaking three times to two and taking out the first set 6-4. Looking to take back command, the Italian firebrand stepped it up in the second set, to break twice consecutively early and powered on to a 4-0 lead, then won the set 6-1 to level the match.
The third set was evenly poised with neither player able to take a huge advantage early. It all changed at 3-3, when Fognini found his rhythm to break twice consecutively again, and take out the match courtesy of back-to-back winners at 30-30 in the ninth game of the set. In the end, the second seed claimed victory, 4-6 6-1 6-3.
Fognini has won nine titles in his career, eight of which have come on clay. He heads into tomorrow’s final hoping to get a good result and lead into the Monte Carlo Masters, an event he has a title to defend in 2020. Unfortunately despite his higher ranking, Fognini is yet to beat the 29th ranked Krajinovic, with the Serbian beating him twice, including once on clay in Hamburg. They have only faced off once in the past five years though – at Basel last year – and Krajinovic is yet to win an ATP Tour title.
SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
[5] Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated [1] Alexander Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-4
[2] Fabio Fognini (ITA) defeated [6] Guido Pella (ARG) 4-6 6-1 6-3
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