Fabio Fognini chose the Wimbledon stage to say goodbye to the sport. At the age of 38, the Ligurian champion officially announced his retirement from professional tennis during a press conference in the Media Theatre of the All England Club. It was a decision that came after days of reflection, following the hard-fought first-round defeat against Carlos Alcaraz, which he took to the fifth set with grit and pride.
"This is the best way to say goodbye ," said Fognini, " after that match I don't want to play again. Clear words, sealing the end of a career full of talent and iconic moments. Born in 1987, Fognini won nine ATP titles, including the prestigious triumph at the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 in 2019, the high point of a career that has always come with personality and passion.
"As for me, it was a week where I struggled, luckily I had to be a full-time dad and I didn't dwell on it too much. It's not easy, because I've been doing this job for 20 years and I don't know how to do anything else, but I think I couldn't ask for a better exit because I was competing badly, there were the injuries.
"These are all things that played against it. I think it also takes courage to say enough, in a beautiful setting: with Alcaraz it was a defeat-victory that I have never experienced so intensely.
"This sport has accompanied me throughout my life and will continue to do so. I will always keep so many good memories. I played in the era of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer. The best players. I was lucky to live through this era. I am happy to say goodbye at this time. I will not participate in any more tournaments, I am leaving today."
"This is my decision and for every decision I make I take responsibility. My dream would have been to finish next year in Monte Carlo, where I won the tournament, but this is life. However, I am happy to say goodbye to my professional career, I did my best even if it was not always easy."
"You journalists got to know me, we clashed, the relationship with you I would change if I could go back because it played against me. I could have done more, the barrier that was there and that I sometimes created to defend myself makes me think I created some small recriminations'.
What he said after the battle with Alcaraz
After the match with Alcaraz, Fognini had hinted that the end was near: 'I need a couple of days to see where I've come,' he had said, 'I'm 38 years old, I've done what I've done, right now I have to think about the future'.
Emotionally, he also recounted a touching moment: 'At the end of the match I cried a little together with my family, right now I am struggling to find the words. I'm happy that my son Federico saw his dad play against one of his idols, he even received Carlitos' shirt as a gift'.
On that occasion, he had left the door open to a definitive decision, but his heart seemed to have already chosen: 'It's not a definitive decision yet, but I couldn't ask for something more beautiful, I didn't think I could play a match like that'.
