Fognini delighted to end year-long title drought by winning Montemar Challenger

The Italian defeated Lukas Neumayer in the title clash of the clay court event in Spain to lift his first trophy since November 2023

AI/Reuters/Panoramic

Ayush Vashistha

November 27, 2024

Once a regular name in the ATP top 10, Fabio Fognini has struggled to impress in recent years. The Italian, however, basked in glory after defeating Austria’s Lukas Neumayer 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 in the Montemar Challenger’s final.

The result meant Fognini lifted a trophy for the first time since November 2023 when he prevailed in Valencia on the Challenger Tour.

The world No 90 needed two hours, 20 minutes to overcome the 22-year-old Neumayer in Montemar. The youngster broke him five times during the battle but the Italian edged out by converting six break points.

The outcome meant Fognini now has eight Challenger Tour-level titles in his trophy cabinet.

https://twitter.com/ATPChallenger/status/1860735958938739199

“Even if I was not playing well today, I won the match so I’m happy,” Fognini said expressing his delight after the win (via Talking Tennis). “I’m still competing and I’m really thankful. I have the opportunity to play against these guys who are going up really fast. They run everywhere, they play really good shots. I’m happy with my performance and winning this tournament.”

In Montemar, Fognini overcame the likes of local Daniel Rincon, Russian Svyatoslav Gulin, Kazakh Denis Yevseyev, and Spain’s Inaki Montes-De La Torre, before reaching the title clash.