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Fabio Fognini went from the outrageous to the sublime with a reverse backhand winner in Rome

"No way. You have got to be kidding me!" Commentator Barry Cowan was left in awe after Fognini's outrageous winner

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Fabio Fognini lobbed Dominic Thiem with this reverse backhand flick during their second round match at the Rome Masters

Fabio Fognini got the Foro Italico crowd fired up with an improvised reverse backhand winner during his win against Dominic Thiem at the Rome Masters.

Italy's top player came out wearing a black shirt with a red lightning bolt design down his chest and was energised from the start as he produced a 6-4 1-6 6-3 win over sixth-seeded Thiem on Wednesday.

Fognini dumps out Thiem; Nadal wins
Fognini dumps out Thiem; Nadal wins

Fabio Fognini knocks out Dominic Thiem while Rafael Nadal cruises through in Rome

Fognini, ranked 21, kept his nerve to seal victory and set up a meeting with Germany's Peter Gojowczyk before a possible quarter-final showdown with top seed Rafael Nadal.

Click on the play button in the video above to watch Fognini's outrageous reverse backhand winner...

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