• ATP World Tour

Federer humbled at Hamburg

ESPN staff
July 20, 2013
Roger Federer had been playing with a new racket at the event © AP
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Roger Federer crashed out of the German Tennis Championships after suffering a straight sets defeat to Argentinian Federico Delbonis in Hamburg.

The former world No. 1 was taking part in the event in a bid to find form ahead of the hard court season after losing early at Wimbledon, but the Swiss was unable to seal a spot in the final as the overwhelming favourite after losing 7-6(7) 7-6(4) to qualifier Delbonis in the semi-finals.

Four-time champion Federer claimed the opening break of the opening set by going 2-1 in front. However, Delbonis, ranked 114 in the world, hit back.

With the set poised at 5-5, the forehand of Delbonis was proving difficult for Federer to crack, and in the tiebreak it was the qualifier who seized the initiative to move a set in front thanks to an overhead smash at the net.

And it would be in another tiebreak where Delbonis would claim the biggest win of his career to oust Federer and reach a maiden ATP final.

Fabio Fognini meanwhile made it through to the final after the Italian overcame third seed Nicolas Almagro.

Fognini, who collected the first ATP title of his career last Sunday at Stuttgart, has now won nine matches on the spin, and booked his place in the final with a 6-4 7-6(1) in 11 minutes shy of two hours against Almagro.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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