TENNIS in DEPTH.

Fabio Fognini maintained his composure to seal a tense five-set win over home favourite Gael Monfils in the second round of the French Open.

The match was halted on Wednesday shortly before 2200 local time with the match poised at 5-5 in the decider.

Both players were unhappy with the decision, with Fognini docked a time penalty point, but the Italian returned on Thursday to win 2-6 4-6 7-5 6-4 9-7.

Both players were incensed with officials with the match delicately poised in the fifth set.

Monfils, who reached the quarter-finals in Paris last year and the semi-finals in 2008, squandered two break points on Fognini’s serve when the game resumed in the early evening.

And despite the audible boos from the partisan crowd when the match resumed on Phillippe Chatrier, Fognini managed to hold serve before wrapping up the match in 31 minutes.

“He beat me fair and square,” said Monfils.

A delighted Fognini responded: “It’s a great match. Look at the score. It’s an incredible match.”

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