Murray beaten by Fognini in Rome battle of tennis dads
Fabio Fognini edged out Andy Murray in a battle of veteran tennis dads to reach the Italian Open second round on Wednesday.
Fognini, ranked outside of the top 100 for the first time in 14 years, came through 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 against his fellow 35-year-old.
Former number seven Fognini delighted his home crowd with a controlled final set serving display in which he conceded just three points.
It was his fifth win in nine career meetings with Murray.
Fognini v Murray highlights
FlashscoreThe Italian maverick, like Murray a father of three, fired 46 winners past the former world number one and three-time major winner in a first round tie which stretched to almost three hours.
Next up for Fognini is a clash with Miomir Kecmanovic while 42nd-ranked Murray, the 2016 champion in Rome, licks his wounds after celebrating his first title since 2019 at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger on Sunday.
