ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Fabio Fognini of Italy beat Daniel Gimeno-Traver of Spain 6-3, 6-4 Saturday to advance to the final of the St. Petersburg Open.
Fognini will play in his second career final after winning his maiden title in April in Bucharest, Romania.
The 53rd-ranked Fognini rallied from an early break by winning four consecutive games in the first set and broke his opponent decisively in the seventh game of the second set. He advanced to the net to close the match with a low forehand on his second match point.
Top-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, the 2004 champion and a two-time runner-up, was scheduled to play third-seeded Martin Klizan of Slovakia in the second semifinal match.
