You can always rely on Fabio Fognini for a bit of drama and on what had started as an unpromising, drizzly Wednesday, the veteran Italian duly provided it. He eliminated Casper Ruud, the No.8 seed, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3.

For once, it was Fognini’s tennis that caused the drama and nothing else. He was calm, controlled and in charge of proceedings throughout. Well, more or less.

Had he not twice failed to serve out the match in the third set (he rushed and Ruud didn’t) and then played a stinker of a tie-break, he could have been done in straight sets but nothing is ever that simple with our Fabio. Not that it mattered: he won. Eventually.

“That’s why I love and hate this sport at the same time,” he said, laughing. “I was really in control of the match; I was 5-2, 30-0 [in the third set] and in this game, he play two or three shots when he say ‘let’s go: if it’s in, it’s in. If it’s out the match is over’.

“After that, 5-4 – that’s tension. That’s the sport. Too many things coming into my mind, why I lost this game. And he was playing better, serving better. On the other hand I lost this tie-break and I say ‘OK, I am two sets to one up. I am still in control of the match so let’s play. Let’s enjoy. I think I did a great job today!”

Now aged 37, Fognini is the granddaddy of the current generation of Italian players. When he started out there was him and Andreas Seppi standing side by side against the rest of the world. Now, wherever you look there is another Italian hope making his or her way up the rankings. But, back at home, they all still love Fabio.

He is a much-misunderstood character, is Fabio, and not just because of the remarkable blond hairdo he is sporting this summer. Normally dark haired, this spiky, new peroxide look is so alarmingly bright that the spectators on No.2 Court could read by the light of it during the rain delays.

Fognini can have his moments of madness on the court, exploding with fury, colourful language and racket tossing when things are going wrong but when things are going right, he is a supremely gifted player.

Away from the courts, though, he is a different character. Basically, he is quite shy (although you may not think it to see him play) and those around him describe him as a thoroughly decent chap – they know he can be a bit temperamental but they would all fight to the bitter end for their friend.

He has always known that he has talent but the pressure that brings has often been his undoing. He knows what he has to do; he knows he has the ability to do it so why isn’t it happening today? That sparks the meltdown. And more often than not, he hates himself for letting his temper explode. But he cannot help himself: he knows his own faults; he just does not know how to fix them.

His patience and that temper of his was sorely tested as he and Ruud danced the meteorological two-step for the first couple of hours of their working day. Scheduled to start on Court No.2 at 11am, the rain started at 10.55. Then it stopped. Then it rained again. It looked likely to clear. Then it rained a bit more. And so it went on.

By half past one, they had managed to play 11 points over six interrupted minutes. Now, though, the rain relented and at last the two men were able to get to work.

Conceding 86 ranking spots and 12 years to the world No.8, it did not look to be a fair match up. Except that Ruud is no fan of the grass courts and while they are hardly Fognini’s favourite playing venue, he has more weapons at his disposal than the Norwegian on them.

Ruud is relentlessly efficient from the back of the court; Fognini can rally but he can also slice and dice, he can volley and for a 37-year-old, he can move like the wind. On this surface, that makes all the difference.

All he had to do was keep his concentration in lockdown and that place in the third round was his. He clinched it on his fifth match point – about an hour after his first. There is never a dull moment with Fabio.