ATP Monte Carlo final preview: a lifetime chance for Fognini and Lajovic!
The most unforgettable finale of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters will be between Fabio Fognini and Dusan Lajovic. The Italian and the Serb reached the first final of their career in an ATP Masters 1000, beating all their opponents, even the favourites for the final victory, like Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.
This is an unexpected final, in some ways historical, which interrupts a period of fourteen years where only three players have won the tournament; since 2005 the winners of the event have been Rafael Nadal (11 times), Novak Djokovic (two editions) and Stan Wawrinka (in 2014).
Fognini reached the final playing an incredible tournament: he risked being eliminated in the first round against Andrey Rublev, only to win and defeat opponents like Alexander Zverev, Borna Coric and Rafael Nadal on his way to the final. Lajovic, to reach the final act of the tournament, eliminated rivals such as David Goffin, Dominic Thiem, Lorenzo Sonego and Daniil Medvedev.
It will be a very balanced final, where mental solidity, confidence and regularity will make the difference. Fognini is more discontinuous, but he is playing a crazy week, he has more talent and more experience than his rival. Lajovic is a tough player to deal but Fognini could have a little chance more than his opponent to win the tournament.
There is no head-to-head because this will be the first challenge between the two. In his career, Fognini won 8 titles (7 won on clay courts) in 18 finals played. Lajovic played and won an ATP final. For both players, this will also be the first final of 2019, which comes after a series of not very convincing performances, despite the fact that on clay courts they express their best tennis.
ATP Monte Carlo Rolex Masters final - Percentages:
Fabio Fognini 51% Dusan Lajovic 49%
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2IN36VZ
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