Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini saved two match points on serve at 5-6 in the second set of Saturday's Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag final — but the Italian heroics were just getting started after their 13th break-point save.
The top seeds trailed Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara 0/6 in the second-set tie-break, but stormed back with a miraculous eight straight points to force a Match Tie-break. The Italians stretched that run to 12 points to open up a 4/0 lead in the decider en route to a scarcely believable 5-7, 7-6(6), 10-7 victory.
"This is maybe the craziest match ever," Bolelli said after winning his second Umag title with Fognini. "We were down 0/6 in the second tie-break. We were just playing. The guys missed some [shots] but we played good. We tried to stay focussed in the Match Tie-break.
"Tennis is like this; doubles is crazy sometimes. But I am very happy for this victory and my second title here in Umag with Fabio."
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The familiar pairing claimed its second title of 2022 (Rio de Janeiro) and fifth overall, improving to 106-57 at tour-level and 24-6 on the year.
"We are really happy for sure about this victory," Fognini added. "Crazy, an incredible match. Six match points [in the tie-break]. Well, that's the sport. Thank you Simone for letting me enjoy another time this great title here in Umag after 11 years."
Glasspool/Heliovaara were denied their second title of the season (Hamburg) in their fifth final.
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The top seeds trailed Lloyd Glasspool and Harri Heliovaara 0/6 in the second-set tie-break, but stormed back with a miraculous eight straight points to force a Match Tie-break. The Italians stretched that run to 12 points to open up a 4/0 lead in the decider en route to a scarcely believable 5-7, 7-6(6), 10-7 victory.
"This is maybe the craziest match ever," Bolelli said after winning his second Umag title with Fognini. "We were down 0/6 in the second tie-break. We were just playing. The guys missed some [shots] but we played good. We tried to stay focussed in the Match Tie-break.
"Tennis is like this; doubles is crazy sometimes. But I am very happy for this victory and my second title here in Umag with Fabio."
[ATP APP]
The familiar pairing claimed its second title of 2022 (Rio de Janeiro) and fifth overall, improving to 106-57 at tour-level and 24-6 on the year.
"We are really happy for sure about this victory," Fognini added. "Crazy, an incredible match. Six match points [in the tie-break]. Well, that's the sport. Thank you Simone for letting me enjoy another time this great title here in Umag after 11 years."
Glasspool/Heliovaara were denied their second title of the season (Hamburg) in their fifth final.
[NEWSLETTER FORM]