Fognini defeats Verdasco to enter Swedish Open final

Bastad (Sweden), July 21: Italian third seed Fabio Fognini of Italy reached the first Swedish Open final after defeating fifth seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 on Saturday.

Fognini, the World No.15, needed only two hours and 17 minutes to earn his third win over Verdasco, the World No.33, in their seventh career match, reports Efe.

Verdasco rallied from a set down to draw level, and again fought to come back from a 4-2 deficit in the decider, only to lose the match a few games later.

In his 16th career final, Fognini is scheduled to face either France's world No.29 Richard Gasquet or Switzerland's Henri Laaksonen, world No.148, and is hunting for a seventh career title.