Fabio Fognini withdraws from Cordoba

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• ATP Tennis

Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini has withdrawn from Cordoba. Fognini, ranked at No. 32 in the world, had been expected to make his second Cordoba appearance this year. Fognini, 34, debuted on the clay courts of Cordoba in 2019.

Fognini, who considers clay as his best surface, didn't have a memorable Cordoba debut as he was beaten by Aljaz Bedene in his opener at the tournament in 2019. Fognini usually plays the full Golden Swing and Cordoba is one of the tournaments that takes place during the Golden Swing.

Following the withdrawal of Fognini, a place in the Cordoba main draw opened for Slovak Andrej Martin.

Fognini last played at the Australian Open

Fognini started his 2022 season in Sydney, where he made the round-of-16.

Fognini beat Daniel Altmaier in his Sydney opener, before losing to rising American star Brandon Nakashima in the round-of-16. Fognini then appeared at Melbourne Park, where he didn't impress. Fognino, a former world No.

9, stood no chance against world No. 62 Tallon Griekspoor handed him a 6-1 6-4 6-4 loss. Griekspoor made a positive start to the match against Fognini, having taken an early 3-0 lead. Griekspoor had a chance to go up by a double break but Fognini saved a break point in the fourth game to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

However, it didn't take Griekspoor long to claim another break as he broke Fognini in the sixth game before serving out for the first set a game later. After winning the first set, Griekspoor claimed the first break of the second set in the fifth game.

Fognini had a chance to get the break back but he blew two break points in the sixth game. Griekspoor failed to convert any of his three break points in the seventh game but routinely served out for a two-set lead in the 10th game. Griekspoor then claimed the lone break of the third set in the ninth game and served out for the match a game later.