Fognini advances at St. Petersburg Open

St. Petersburg: Top-seeded Fabio Fognini beat qualifier Dominic Inglot 6-4, 6-4 on Tuesday in the first round of the St. Petersburg Open.

Fognini, the runner-up last year, broke Inglot early in each set and saved the only break point he faced late in the second set.

The 17th-ranked Italian is looking for his third career title. He won his first two back to back in June.

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who is also looking for his third career title, defeated qualifier Mikhail Biryukov 6-4, 6-1. Eighth-seeded Denis Istomin eliminated Samuel Groth 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, breaking decisively on his first match point when the Australian qualifier returned his forehand long.