On clay courts where he practiced as a youth with big dreams, Fabio Fognini won the biggest title of his erratic career Sunday, beating Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 in the Monte Carlo Masters final in Monaco.
Fognini, from San Remo, Italy, a 40-minute drive from Monaco along the Mediterranean coast, made his breakthrough at age 31.
Although it was Fognini's ninth career title, it was his first at Masters level. He will climb six places up to 12th in the world rankings.
"I was practicing here when I was young. I know really well this tennis club," Fognini said. "This tournament … it's something that when I was really young I was dreaming about."
Fognini reached the final by defeating defending champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets, becoming the first player to beat Nadal at the Monte Carlo Country Club since Novak Djokovic in the 2015 semifinals.
"It has been an incredible week," Fognini said. "I will keep working. I started the season badly so this is unbelievable."
Since going out in the third round of the Australian Open, Fognini had won only one match and lost six times before this tournament.
Fognini's career has seen many flashes of brilliance — he is well known for his flicked, laser-beam forehands down the line and his cross-court backhand — but also many temper tantrums. He has beaten Nadal three times on clay and once at the U.S. Open, indicating his potential and, until Sunday, his failure to reach it.
