#Dramz on the Dirt: Fognini and Delbonis Destroy Daylight in Rio
Presumably, Friday at the Rio Open in Rio de Janeiro started out like any other day, but it didn’t take long for things to get weird.
In sweltering temperatures, the day on Centre Court began with promise for 18-year-old wildcard Beatriz Haddad Maia in her quarterfinal match against Sara Errani. The teenager led the top seed by a set and a break, serving for the match twice and holding three match points; however, she was unable to convert on these chances and was eventually forced to retire in a scary cramping episode, ending the match in Errani’s favor 3-6, 7-6(2), 3-0 after two hours, 18 minutes.
Next, men’s No. 2 seed David Ferrer needed just over two hours to see off Juan Monaco in a three sets, setting the home crowd up for more disappointment. After two hours and 21 minutes, wildcard Joao Souza came out on the losing end against Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer 6-7(4), 6-1, 4-6.
With the hours ticking away, the Twitterverse began to speculate how the tournament would handle the scheduling of the two remaining ATP matches on tap for the day: Fabio Fognini vs. Federico Delbonis and Rafael Nadal vs. Pablo Cuevas.
Curious to see if they move Fognini to Court 1.
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 20, 2015@FortyDeuceTwits Tomorrow is Saturday, there's no reason for us not to leave here after the sunrise.
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Patrick Carvalho (@patrickcarvalho) February 20, 2015Hearing no chance Fabio gets moved to Court 1. So…take a nap, Rafa!
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 20, 2015The match began innocuously enough: both men held serve three times before Fognini broke in the seventh game en route to a 6-4 first set win.
The events that transpired next still cannot be explained.
The Argentine built a 5-1 lead in the second set, and with Fognini sputtering, seemed primed to easily put the match into a decider.
Until, you know, he didn’t.
Delbonis is legit falling apart, 4-6 5-3 0-30 #tennis #atp #atprio has already failed to serve out set once, at 5-1, Fognini held for 3-5
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S K (@nolesfan2011) February 21, 2015One man's fist pump is another man's racquet smash! #ATP http://t.co/hGEpL84lbL
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TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) February 21, 2015Fogna 4-5 from 1-5. On serve.
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José Morgado (@josemorgado) February 21, 2015"Delbonis has been taken on a ride at the Fabio fairground" says commentator. This roller coaster climbing to a 3rd set. #RioOpen
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Erik Gudris (@ATNtennis) February 21, 2015After saving three match points in the second set tiebreak, Delbonis won the set 7-6(10) to send the match into its third hour.
"I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure why." - @KevinSkinnerMIA on that 2nd set.
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Victoria Chiesa (@vrcsports) February 21, 2015As the 3rd set dragged on, #émotions were felt across the land.
We are laughing through tears.
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 21, 2015I'm crying. This is too much.
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Sam Davis (@Around_ThePost) February 21, 2015IS THIS REAL LIFE?
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Tony (@tjc05) February 21, 2015This Rio situation is violating some Geneva convention tenets, I'm guessing.
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Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) February 21, 2015At least we're nearing the end of this. There is an end. That's the saving grace.
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Ataraxis (@Ataraxis00) February 21, 2015The ATP might’ve felt “it,” but Delbonis felt the love. #newrioopenslogans
I know it’s late and I’m kind of fading…
But did Delbonis just blow a kiss at Fognini?
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 21, 2015Delbonis holds, and shakes his fist-pump at Fognini. Fognini, pissed, yells something back at him. Delbonis blows him a kiss.
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Katie Bee (@breakpointsaved) February 21, 2015Federico #Delbonis blew #Fognini a kiss at the end of that last game... #RioOpen #tennis http://t.co/fmRIPpQd8O
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(@TennisTV) February 21, 2015Delbonis Current Mood? http://t.co/LwMUoMT1gv
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Tony (@tjc05) February 21, 2015♫♫ “IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN” ♫♫
SIX match points saved
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Josh Meiseles (@jmeistennis) February 21, 2015SEVEN match points saved
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Josh Meiseles (@jmeistennis) February 21, 2015EIGHT match points saved
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Josh Meiseles (@jmeistennis) February 21, 2015Fabio Fognini needs NINE match points and three hours and 12 minutes (longest match of career), d. Federico Delbonis 64 67(10) 76(9) in Rio.
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Josh Meiseles (@jmeistennis) February 21, 2015Tough, tight and utterly ridiculous.
It's over! #Fognini beats #Delbonis 64 67 76 in tough, tight, utterly ridiculous #RioOpen QF. #tennis http://t.co/uiok7N7taz
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(@TennisTV) February 21, 2015We did it together, you guys.
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 21, 2015I mean I don't know anymore http://t.co/YWzT3JrGir
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Tony (@tjc05) February 21, 2015Don't see that every day. #Fognini clapping his opponent off the court... #RioOpen #tennis http://t.co/Bkfdi4FBPo
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(@TennisTV) February 21, 2015Heart and…..eggs? I don’t think that word means what I was told it means.
CORAZON Y HUEVOSSSSSSS @fabiofogna
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Fulvia Fognini (@Fulvia_Fognini) February 21, 2015And when it was all over, there was still time for some guy named Rafa. Barely.
How we got here: Matches started at 1pm
Errani d. Maia - 2h18m
Ferrer d. Monaco - 2h4m
AHM d. Souza - 2h21m
Fog d. Delbo - 3h13m
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Courtney Nguyen (@FortyDeuceTwits) February 21, 2015It's 1 a.m., but they're still waiting for RN. #hastodohisstuff http://t.co/wDKXkKIcEJ
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Stephanie Myles (@OpenCourt) February 21, 2015No one said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it.
The Tennis Island 
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