Monte Carlo champion Fabio Fognini joins Dominic Thiem in Hamburg in July
Together with Gstaad and Kitzbuhel, Hamburg serves as the last chance for the clay-courters to taste success on the ATP Tour before switching to hard courts by the end of the season, with Hamburg offering tempting 500 ATP points. The organizers of one of the oldest tennis tournaments in the world have confirmed Dominic Thiem as the first player in the field and on Friday they have added another star that will fight for the title between July 22-28. Monte Carlo champion Fabio Fognini returns to Hamburg for the eighth time, competing there between 2009-15 and winning the title in 2013 saving three match points versus Federico Delbonis.
Two years later, Fabio gave his best against Rafael Nadal, losing 7-5, 7-5 in the final after pushing the Spaniard to the limits for more than two and a half hours. The Italian should be among the favorites in July as well, winning the first Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo last week and moving closer to the place in the top-10 with those points despite a terrible start of the season.
"Fabio is one of the most talented players on the Tour. If he keeps playing like in Monte Carlo, we will welcome him as a top-10 player in July," tournament director Sandra Reichel said. "Fabio always walks a bit between genius and madness, the tennis fans love him for all his emotions. Traditionally he feels very comfortable in Hamburg and we can't wait to have him in the draw."
"Winning the tournament in 2013 was a milestone in my career and I love the tennis fans in Hamburg. Moreover, Hamburg is a beautiful city where many of my Italian compatriots live," said Fognini.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2vouEsX
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