Fognini's farewell? Teary Fabio ponders future after Alcaraz five-setter

Match Reaction

Fognini's farewell? Teary Fabio ponders future after Alcaraz five-setter

Italian reflects on performance against Alcaraz

AFP/Getty Images Fabio Fognini waves to the Centre Court crowd after pushing Carlos Alcaraz to five sets on Monday at Wimbledon. By ATP Staff

Fabio Fognini produced such a memorable performance Monday at Wimbledon against Carlos Alcaraz, the 38-year-old is considering making it his last match.

The nine-time ATP Tour singles champion had already made clear this would be his final season and therefore his last appearance at Wimbledon. But after pushing the second seed to five gripping sets on Centre Court, he is thinking about leaving the sport on a high.

“I think this probably [the] best way to say [goodbye] to Wimbledon, and maybe for the tennis. That's what I'm thinking now,” Fognini said. “I am happy for sure. I have a lot of emotion coming to my mind. Yes, was super amazing atmosphere over there. I enjoyed [it] a lot.”

Fognini is a player who always wears his heart on his sleeve. The former No. 9 player in the PIF ATP Rankings is never afraid of showing the world how he feels on the court. But the Italian pulled back the curtain further than normal when explaining how much the moment meant to him.

“I have to be honest, I cried in the locker room. I cried,” Fognini said. “I didn't expect [to] play five sets against him. I have to be honest. The way I was coming here, I [had] no expectation because since I started the year this year, after the injury, I was playing really bad. I didn't win so many matches…

“I said before, there is no better way to play in this court with a great champion that I have a lot of respect with him and for his team, because I know them very, very well.”

Alcaraz has now won a personal-best 19 consecutive matches, but for much of his clash with Fognini, the Spaniard was left scrambling for answers. Fognini, who once stunned Rafael Nadal in five sets at the US Open, was not far from ousting Alcaraz at SW19.

“To finish here, I can't ask a better way. Now, of course, there is something that is salty in my mouth because I had my chance, if we [are] speaking about tennis,” Fognini said. “In the beginning of [the] fifth set, still there. But okay, he's a champion, he won two times here. At the moment I think he's probably the best player in the world. He played against Jannik one month ago [an] amazing final, so all the respect for him.”

It was even more meaningful for Fognini considering he entered the match on a 10-match tour-level losing streak. It was not only proof for himself, but for the world, that on his day the Italian could test anyone on the circuit.

“I was looking good, I think. [It] was great. I mean, if we make an analysis of the match, I think I lost the first set, and I didn't deserve to lose the first set. Then I was [a] break down, and I won the second,” Fognini said. “He won the third. But I was up again 2-1 with [a] break. This is probably, if we can say, the worst game when I was up with my serve. Then I won very good the fourth one.

“Yes, the beginning of the fifth set was completely s***. I didn't deserve I think being 4-Love in the fifth set like that because I was 40/15 in the second game, I lost that game. I was 15/40, and I lost the game. I was 40/15 again and I lost the game. I didn't deserve to be 4-Love down, at least 2-2. But I played with Carlos, I didn't play with my friend or with [my son] Federico.”

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