At 37 years and seven months, Fabio Fognini will wrap up the season as the third-oldest top-100 player. Fabio made a strong finish to the season, winning the Challenger crown in Montemar and wrapping up another year-end top-100 season.
While his best days at Majors are likely behind him, Fabio still recalls his proudest moments on the most notable scene. The Italian wrote history books at the 2015 US Open, overcoming two sets to love deficit and stunning the two-time winner, Rafael Nadal.
Two fearsome rivals battled in the third round at Arthur Ashe Stadium and Fognini prevailed 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in three hours and 47 minutes. Thus, the Italian became the second player to overcome two sets to love deficit against the Spaniard.
Fabio Fognini, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
He joined Roger Federer on the exclusive list and stood as the only player to achieve that against Rafa at Majors! Recalling the match, Fognini described this victory as one of his most beautiful ones.
While remembering his four wins over Rafa, three in 2015, Fabio highlights the New York encounter as the most cherished one. The outcome could have been completely different as Nadal led 6-3, 6-4, 3-1 in an hour and 42 minutes.
However, the Spaniard failed to bring the third set home. He lost ground and finished on the losing side despite pulling a break back in the decider.
Rafael Nadal, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
Fognini’s numbers versus Nadal at the US Open
Fabio took two points more than Rafa. The Spaniard struggled behind the second serve and played against 16 break points, losing serve nine times. Fognini played against 19 break points and defended 11, providing a late break in the decider that carried him through.
Nadal stayed below 30 winners and while spraying 40 unforced errors. Fognini attacked and took charge in the exchanges. The Italian hit 65 direct points with 75 unforced mistakes, playing bold tennis and performing an incredible comeback.
Rafa had the upper hand in the shortest rallies and prevailed in the most extended ones. However, Fabio responded strongly in the mid-range ones, outplaying the legend and earning his victory in that segment.
Rafael Nadal & Fabio Fognini, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
Rafa makes a reliable start
The Spaniard produced a fine hold at the beginning of the duel and welcomed the rival’s double fault in game two for a 2-0 lead. Nadal squandered a game point in game three and fell on the third break point after Fognini’s lucky net cord winner.
Rafa stayed focused and generated three break points in the fourth game. He landed a perfect backhand down the line slice lob on the last, securing his second break and restoring the order. Nadal denied a break point in the fifth game with a smash winner.
Fabio Fognini, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
He fired a service winner to bring it home and open a 4-1 advantage. A left-hander landed another unreturned serve in the seventh game for a 5-2 lead. Fognini saved a set point in the eighth game and held to prolong the set. Rafa left that chance behind.
The Spaniard held at love in the ninth game, wrapping up the opener 6-3 in 42 minutes. They served well in the opening six games of the second set, locking the result at 3-3. The Italian saved two break points in the seventh game and closed it with an ace.
Rafa brought the eighth game home at love and made another push on the return in the next one from 0-40! Fabio sprayed two unforced errors at a deuce, losing serve and falling behind. The two-time champion served for the set at 5-4 and converted the fourth set point.
Thus, Nadal forged a 6-3, 6-4 victory in an hour and 27 minutes, moving closer to the finish line. He moved even closer to it when Fabio netted a forehand in the third game of the third set and dropped serve. Rafa closed the fourth game at love with a service winner.
Rafael Nadal, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
Fabio turns the tables and brings the win home
Thus, the Spaniard led 6-3, 6-4, 3-1, and no one could have seen the Italian on the winning side. However, Fabio painted a backhand down the line winner in the sixth game, leveling the score at 3-3 and launching his comeback.
Nadal landed a forehand winner in the eighth game for 4-4 and served to stay in the set two games later. Fognini created two set points, seizing the second after the rival’s forehand error and extending the battle after two hours and eight minutes.
The opening set of the fourth set lasted ten minutes. Fabio overcame a 40-0 deficit and wasted four game points. Rafa converted the fifth break chance after the opponent’s loose slice, forging an early advantage and holding at 15 in the next one for 2-0.
Rafael Nadal & Fabio Fognini, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
Fognini stayed focused and pulled the break back in game four after a crafty volley winner at the net. Nadal struggled on serve in the eighth game and faced three break points. The lower-ranked player converted the second with a smash winner, moving 5-3 in front.
The Italian served for the set in game nine. He landed a service winner on a set point, taking the set 6-3 and forcing a decider after two hours and 54 minutes. Fabio clinched a break in the third game of the final set, moving closer to a stunner.
Eager to fight until the end, Rafa cracked a stunning forehand down the line winner in the eighth game. He pulled the break back and leveled the score at 2-2. Still, Fognini attacked on the return in the fifth game and generated another break that sent him in front.
Rafael Nadal, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
The Italian hit a double fault in the sixth game, allowing his rival to erase another deficit and remain in contention. Nadal played a loose service game for the third straight time at 3-3, suffering a break after Fognini’s attack and a drop shot winner.
The eighth game could have been crucial! Fabio squandered five game points, including a 40-0 lead. He netted a routine backhand on the third break point, bringing Rafa back to 4-4 and increasing the drama. Fabio left that game behind instantly.
He painted a forehand down the line winner in the ninth game for three break chances. He fired a backhand crosscourt winner on the first, providing his fourth straight break and serving for the win at 5-4. Rafa sprayed a forehand error after an extended exchange at 30-30.
Fabio Fognini, US Open 2015© Stream screenshot
Fognini seized a match point after Nadal’s wayward backhand, sealing the deal and starting a massive celebration following a cold handshake at the net.
“I beat Rafa four times, and the most beautiful victory came at the 2015 US Open. I was the first player since Roger Federer to beat Rafa from two sets to love down, and the first to do that at Majors. It was a sensational duel, and it’s hard to explain what it meant to beat a player of that magnitude. It was a memorable triumph, but I cherish every win against Rafa because they are all unique,” Fabio Fognini said.
Tennis World USA