Seven things you need to know about Fabio Fognini who made Carlos Alcaraz sweat in Wimbledon in Wimbledon

Come out defeated by the central of Wimbledon It can be a triumph. So it was for Fabio Fognini Accompanied by a standing ovation led by the opponent who had just beaten him, Carlos Alcaraz, number two in the world and outgoing champion on the English grass. If Fognini, the first man of the reborn blue tennis, capable of entering the world top ten in the middle of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era, had imagined his last time in Wimbledon (this year is a farewell tour only partially declared), he would hardly have dreamed of it so beautiful having to put a defeat inside. In front of wife, Flavia Pennettaand children, three including Federico for a dad fan and not from Alcaraz, did wonders on the grass in spite of his 38 years and the current ranking beyond the number 100.

Years

«I don’t understand why this should be the last Wimbledon of Fognini, for me it can still play 3 or 4 years, he is a great player who has shown his talent throughout his career. I am happy to have shared the field and the changing rooms with him ». These are the words of Carlos Alcaraz who during the match also let himself go to another comment: “So he can play up to 50 years” according to some interpretations; “But how does this play? He is 50 years old »according to others. In both cases it is evident that 16 years of difference have not been seen between the Ligurian and the Spaniard.

All the talent of the world

Ask anyone who knows something tennis and will tell you that nobody plays with the style of Fabio Fognini, born in Sanremo and raised at Arma di Taggia: perfect blows, practically without having to move on the field. He has always had his hand and technique like a few Fabio Fognini and he also knows. In this first round that seemed like a final with David Beckham in the stands, he mimick the shot of a photo after a winning answer. He said it to everyone: “Have you seen what I did? What do you have to do? ». Of the unrulyness that accompanies the genius, we will say then.

All the “ugly” words of the world

Fabio Fognini never limited himself, on the pitch he said everything he passed through his head and even something more. Never had cold relationships with the referees, never concealed. Nothing remains unexpressed in “sewer” and several times it has resulted in sexism and homophobia. As soon as he came out of the field he has always apologized, but too many times the doubt remained that if that verbal impatience had been channeled on the field he would have led to other results next to the talent of the Ligurian. And instead it often seemed that the character was the worst opponent of Fabio Fognini.

As someone said Dr. Fognini and Mister Fabio, impossible to divide, unable to join in one person. “I’m a hot head: I was wrong,” 2017.

Even earlier in 2014: «I will be crazy, unpleasant and I will also be wasting my talent, but one thing are not, racist. I said Zingaro in a moment of anger and I certainly did not give a cultural and “geographical” weight to the word. I do my excuses to my opponent and all the people who have felt offended for these while I know that I do not feed any form of racism towards each animal person sex ideas. I was wrong, I didn’t want to offend anyone, I know Filip (Krajinovic) very well and those who do sports know that sometimes you go beyond saying meaningless things ».

In 2021 he gave himself of the fagot and then playing with a rainbow band as a sign of apologies. “I love the LGBT community and I apologize for this nonsense that came out.”

There are video collections with its blatant expressions, even the fun ones, without excessive disturbance and almost with fun. Some have become phrases for T -shirts. He says he signed hundreds of them.

Friends

One above all Novak Djokovic. «We grew up together and he always makes jokes in the changing rooms, with me, with everyone … we also have a rivalry in football, because he is a big fan of Inter and I of Milan. We have a very good relationship. He is one of the tennis players I have known for all the other tennis players for more. The first time I saw Fabio were 13 or 14 years old, playing Sanremo, at the Under 14 European Championships. However Fabio is a phenomenon ». Lorenzo Musetti is inspired by him, Flavio Cobolli is already part of his team of the future manager.

Flavia Pennetta

Fabio Fognini is married to Flavia Pennetta, the only Italian capable of winning the women’s US Open. He had been eliminated in the men’s tournament and had already taken a plane to return to Europe, he did not hesitate a second to redo the journey backwards to see it triumph in 2015. Yes, ten years ago. After that victory she, born in 1982, left tennis for marriage and the family. «I was very lucky, I repeat it, and I repeat it, to find a person like her, with whom to share everything, and who comes from my own sport. He knows how to understand my moods, he always knows how to stay next to me, “the tennis player said a few years ago. The looks during the last game in Wimbledon said even more at 9 years after the wedding.

The family with the F

They have three children: Federico, Farah and Flaminia. And the F is not a coincidence. Federico was born on May 19, 2017 and from Wimbledon this year he brings home a shirt of his idol, Carlos Alcaraz. It bears this name in the tennis player Federico Luzzi who died in 2008 due to a leukemia. On 23 December 2019 the second son was born, Farah. On November 19, 2021, in Barcelona, ​​Flaminia was born.

Double

The only one of the Italian players, to the male, Fognini has had a career in double winning and parallel to the singular one together with Simone Bolelli. The tip of diamond was the victory of the title at the 2015 Australian Open. Yes, it is the same year in which Flavia Pennetta would have won Falshing Meadows. A case? It is to be said of no, not coincidences, but made in the history of the blue couple of tennis.