Alexandr Dolgopolov has knocked out 13th seed Fabio Fognini in the first round of the Mutua Madrid Open.
The Ukrainian was the first man to break serve in the third game but was then pegged back by Italy's Fognini five games later. It looked like a tie-break would be needed to separate the pair in the first set, but Dolgopolov broke through to snatch it 7-5.
Fognini responded in the second set, breaking Dolgopolov twice in a row before serving it out to love 6-4.
There was just one break in the final set and it was Fognini's serve that was snapped, with world number 22 Dolgopolov going on to win 6-3.
It is the third time that Dolgopolov has got the better of Fognini this year. He next faces Latvia's Ernests Gulbis in the last 32.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
