Fabio Fognini has given Italy a 1-0 advantage over Great Britain in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup following a 6-4 2-6 6-4 6-1 victory over James Ward in Naples.
Both competitors grabbed a break apiece in the first set, but it was Fognini's movement and pace on the court that helped him take a one-set lead.
Ward bounced back in the second set with four winners and three break points, while Fognini could only get two games on the board as proceedings levelled.
The Brit was unable to continue his dominance by squandering three break points in the third set, while Fognini secured 18 winners to clinch a 2-1 lead in the encounter.
It went from bad to worse for Ward in the fourth set as Fognini grabbed two early break points and stormed to a 6-1 score to put the first point on the board to Italy.
Danielle Joynson
