Rafa Nadal to play Fabio Fognini in Hamburg Open final, live on Sky Sports
Sunday 2 August 2015 14:54, UK
Rafa Nadal will try to avenge two straight defeats to Fabio Fognini on Sunday to secure a record 47th clay-court title at the bet-at-home Open in Hamburg.
Nadal saw off Andreas Seppi 6-1 6-2 to reach the Hamburg final for a second time, in his first appearance at the tournament since defeating Roger Federer for the 2008 crown.
The world No 10 has been beset by all kinds of problems with his form in a disappointing season, but now has the chance to extend his streak of claiming at least one European clay-court title every year since 2004.
Fognini, the champion of Hamburg in 2013, overcame French qualifier Lucas Pouille 6-2 7-6 (7/2) to book his third meeting of the year with Nadal.
The enigmatic Italian has beaten Nadal in their two previous meetings this season - claiming a pair of upsets in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona - making him only the second player in history to beat the Spaniard on clay multiple times in a season (Novak Djokovic 2011 and 2015).
Fognini, the world No 32, was on the brink of being forced to a third set by Pouille, but when facing set point on serve at 6-5 in the second he went on to win nine of the following 11 points to claim victory.
Also on Sunday, Britain's Jamie Murray will play in the doubles final with Australian partner John Peers. The Wimbledon runners-up will face the strong Colombian pairing of Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah for the title.
In their one previous meeting, Cabal and Farah beat Murray and Peers in straight sets.
Live ATP Tennis
You can watch Rafa Nadal v Fabio Fognini in the Hamburg Open final live on Sky Sports 3 from 12pm on Sunday August 2.
