NAPLES, Italy (AP) — Fabio Fognini pulled off a surprise straight sets victory over two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray as Italy leveled the Davis Cup quarterfinal against Britain 2-2 on Sunday.
Fognini triumphed 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the clash between the countries’ top players to keep alive Italy’s bid to reach the semifinals for the first time in 16 years.
The final break came in the final game. The eighth-ranked Murray rescued two match points but hit a third into the net.
James Ward now faces Andrea Seppi in the decisive fifth rubber, with Britain looking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1981.
Italy has not lost at home to Britain since 1926, but that record looked in danger when Murray broke Fognini’s serve in the first game.
