Qualified for the second round, Fognini confides: "I certainly wasn't like Sinner"

In a press conference, Fabio Fognini reflected on his career, comparing himself to one of his most illustrious compatriots: Jannik Sinner.

Fabio Fognini is not the player he used to be. Formerly a member of the world's Top 10 (9th), he is now ranked just 93rd in the world. At 37 years of age, the whimsical Italian is nonetheless an extremely talented player, capable of winning matches even when walking.

Against Bottic Van de Zandschulp in the first round, he did just that. Without giving much away physically, the unpredictable Italian perfectly mastered an opponent who was not really in his element (6-1, 6-1, 7-5).

Interviewed after his victory, Fognini made no secret of his desire to hit a few more big shots. Looking back on his long and successful career, which began in 2004, he explained that he was the opposite of a certain Jannik Sinner, renowned for his calm and composure: "I'm proud of my career, at its best and at its worst. I've made mistakes and paid the consequences, but I believe that's part of every human being's life. I certainly wasn't like Sinner: he was the perfect guy that everyone loves, I was the imperfect one that you either love or hate.

Now we have to face reality, and what's done is done. I keep playing because I love the sport and enjoy the competition."

Touchingly, the Transalpine even confessed to having thought about retiring during 2023: "I was very close to saying goodbye. I've been through a sad and difficult period. Last year, after this tournament, I was out of action for two months, and each time it was harder to recover. I played tournaments to move up the rankings and, at that point, I asked myself why I was doing it: they were tournaments that, even if I'd won them, wouldn't have changed anything for me."

Indeed, the veteran Italian had scoured the Challenger circuit in 2023, winning many matches and even taking victory in Valencia. However, he didn't seem to be very interested, and this admission echoes the lack of motivation he felt at the time.

In the next round, he faces Tommy Paul, ranked 14th in the world. A match that already promises to be fiery.