Fabio Fognini nearly caused an all-time great Wimbledon upset in the first round against Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian hadn’t won an ATP Tour main draw match in nine months when he stepped foot onto Centre Court, taking on the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Many were predicting an easy win for the world number two, although Fognini had other ideas as he pushed Alcaraz all the way.
Eventually, Fognini lost to Alcaraz in five sets 5-7, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, 1-6, as he waved goodbye to the fans at SW19 one final time.
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Despite his impending retirement, Alcaraz claimed 38-year-old Fognini could play tennis until he was 50 after the match.
Reacting to those comments, Fognini’s wife, Flavia Pennetta, has shared what she told her husband recently.
Flavia Pennetta told Fabio Fognini ‘don’t try it’ after Carlos Alcaraz said he could play until he’s 50
During an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Pennetta revealed what she said to Fognini in reaction to Alcaraz’s comments.
“I told him: don’t try it, I scolded him. Which then puts strange ideas in his head,” she said.
Earlier this year, Fognini announced his intention to retire in 2025, although the exact date wasn’t clear.
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After losing to Alcaraz, Fognini hinted that he may have played his final match, during his press conference.
“I think this is probably [the] best way to say [goodbye] to Wimbledon, and maybe for the tennis,” he said.
Asked about Fognini’s future, Pennetta claimed her husband ‘already knows’ what he’s going to do.
“We’ll also go on holiday, all five of us, where he’ll take the opportunity to reflect, away from the courts,” she said.
“But I think he already knows that deep down. It’s always difficult to move from thought to action when it comes to ending a career that’s been with you your whole life.
“I think he’s satisfied that he’s made his decision. I’ll support him, no matter what his choices are.”
Pennetta announced her retirement from tennis after the biggest win of her career, when she took home the US Open title in 2015.
When asked if she remembers her retirement, Pennetta explained how she was satisfied with her career when she decided to call it quits.
“Of course I remember. I was satisfied, content. I was at peace with that trophy in my hand, and it came naturally to me to say enough,” she said.
“[Novak] Djokovic, for example, is so competitive that he would never stop, after a joy like that of the Olympic victory, which Nole has chased throughout his career, I would have said enough.”
Pennetta continued, giving her verdict on Fognini’s next steps, whether that be in punditry or coaching.
“I would definitely see him as a talent, because he understands the game, he knows how to explain it,” she said.
“He is not afraid to say things as they are, to give his impartial opinion.
“He has a great eye. He can immediately understand if a young person has talent. Of course, I don’t see him as a “maestro”, but I think that within a team, he could certainly make his contribution.”
It remains to be seen what Fognini will do next, as he wraps up an excellent tennis career.
Fabio Fognini’s tennis achievements
As fans begin to look back at Fognini’s career, what better time than now to assess his tennis accomplishments?
- Career-high ranking – 9th
- Career titles – 9
- Biggest title – 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters
- Best Grand Slam performance – QF 2011 French Open
- Top ten wins – 17
- Wins over world number one – 1 (Andy Murray, 2017 Italian Open)
- Career prize money – $17,000,000
Achieving plenty of success in singles, Fognini picked up the biggest win of his career in the doubles when he won the Australian Open title ten years ago.
The Italian pair of Fognini and Simone Bolelli defeated the French duo of Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
He reached a career-high doubles ranking of seventh in the world shortly after, when he and Bolelli qualified for the last four at Roland Garros.
However, while his achievements are impressive, Fognini will likely be better remembered for the way he entertained fans on the court.
A true showman, Fognini played beautiful tennis that left him with a highlight reel few can rival.
If his Wimbledon bout with Alcaraz was his last as a professional, fans will fondly remember the 38-year-old’s final match, as he battled right to the very end.