2 Responses to shanghai19fognini_murray

1. Voo de Mar says:

   July 15, 2025 at 2:16 pm

   Points won by each set: | 50-43, 30-39, 44-43 |
   Points won directly behind the serve:
   18 % Fognini – 24 of 132
   31 % Murray – 37 of 117

   Just a second round match, but very interesting because a third set tie-break decided, and these both 32-year-old players were specialists at resolving problems of tight deciding sets (Murray finished his career with a 25-15 record in deciding 3rd set tie-breaks, Fognini slightly better percentage-wise: 21-12). It was the only time in their nine meetings Fognini [12] was a heavy favorite; he enjoyed his arguably best season in 2019 thanks to the Monte Carlo title, and entering the Shanghai draw he was still fighting for a spot at Masters while for Murray [289, wild card] it was an exceptionally difficult period as he was struggling with a hip injury for two years, ultimately he wasn’t a regular ATP player for three years due to Covid in 2020.
   Murray led *4:2 (deuce) and 6:5* (30/0) in the opener – he lost the 12th game after three deuces. In the 3rd set he led 5:4 (30-all) on serve when played a poor approach-shot and netted his FH-volley. At 5-all (15-all) Fognini played a defensive shot and shouted a second before Murray’s volley winner. The Scot broke and argued with the Italian at the change of ends (pic-stats photo), i.a. telling him “Shut Up!” as he wanted to explain the umpire Fergus Murphy what had happened. Murray failed to create a match point again at *6:5 (30-all) and lost the tie-break 2/7. The players coldly shake-handed (Murray had lost a similar match once in his career before in London 2010)… # It was the first of their two ~three-hour ‘2-1’ matches, Fognini emerged victorious from the other one as well, and won their rivalry 5-4 which is quite interesting given Murray’s incomparably better career overall.

   # Comparison of their two tight encounters:
   Shanghai 2019 (2R): Fognini d. Murray 7-6, 2-6, 7-6… 3 hours 9 minutes… Total points: 124-125… Breaks: 4-6
   Rome 2023 (1R): Fognini d. Murray 6-4, 4-6, 6-4… 2 hours 54 minutes… Total points: 113-102… Breaks: 5-4

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2. Voo de Mar says:

   July 15, 2025 at 3:00 pm

   Murray regained his self-confidence in the Asian ’19 swing (Zhuhai, Beijing, Shanghai), winning a few matches, and losing three to ~Top 20 players being very competitive; he came back to Europe and unexpectedly triumphed in Antwerp – it was his 46th & last title even though he’d play for another five years

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