Italian Open: Murray succumbs to Fognini

Defending champion and world number one Andy Murray was swept aside by home favourite Fabio Fognini at the Italian Open on Tuesday, being completely outplayed in a 6-2 6-4 defeat.

Murray has won only five of his last 10 matches as while he continues to search for some spark in a lacklustre claycourt season.

Defending champion and world number one Andy Murray was swept aside by home favourite Fabio Fognini at the Italian Open on Tuesday, being completely outplayed in a 6-2 6-4 defeat.

Only a late spell of resistance when he reeled off three games at 1-5 in the second set kept the scoreline respectable as the British player's worrying slump in form continued ahead of this month's French Open.

An inspired Fognini, whose wife former U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta is expecting their first child this week, thumped 31 winners in his first victory over a world number one.

Murray has won only five of his last 10 matches as while he continues to search for some spark in a lacklustre claycourt season.