Fognini wins in upset at Romania Open

BUCHAREST, Romania, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Fabio Fognini pulled off a second-round upset Wednesday of No. 2-seeded Nicolas Almagro at the Romania Open tennis tournament.

Fognini was able to get an advantage on Almagro's second serve in a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory at the clay-court tournament. Fognini cashed in three of four break-point opportunities and won 56 percent of the points when Almagro was forced into a second serve.

The victory boosted Fognini into Friday's quarterfinals against No. 5-seeded Albert Montanes, who was a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Marcel Granollers in his second-round match. Montanes dropped just 11 points on serve in the match.

Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo and Santiago Ventura, a tournament qualifier, won Wednesday and will meet in the quarters. Ramirez Hidalgo survived a 3-hour, 18-minute battle with Marius Copil in winning 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4 and Ventura advanced when Alberto Martin retired in a first set with a left leg injury.

The first round was completed Wednesday with Simon Greul winning 7-5, 6-3 over Steve Darcis in a match suspended Tuesday and eighth-seeded Pablo Cuevas topped local favorite Andrei Pavel 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).