ATP Sofia: Crazy! Fabio Fognini personally asks for a warning
Fabio Fognini asked for a warning for hitting the ball during his performance in Sofia - for himself.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 29, 2022, 09:37 am
Sometimes you think you've seen everything - but Fabio Fognini surprises you again and again.
The Italian is known for his sometimes eccentric performances, often garnished with discussions in wonderfully Italian intonation.
At the ATP tournament in Sofia, the 35-year-old amazed in a completely different way on Tuesday. In the first round match against Alexandar Vukic, he made a double mistake when the score was 5: 5 and 15: 0 - and shot the return under the ceiling in annoyance.
So far, so unspectacular - and referee Aurelie Tourte showed her good-natured side, reported the score, but refrained from issuing a warning to Fognini.
Fognini asks for a warning!
So he got ready for the next serve, then paused briefly - and personally asked Tourte for a "violation".
"Give me one," he demanded twice, and Tourte would not be asked a third time. "Code violation, ball abuse, warning Mr. Fognini," she said, to Fognini's satisfaction. He then got his game through, but ultimately lost the match 6:7 (11), 5:7.
Bitter for Fognini: He had already led 6: 3 in the tie-break and was unable to use a total of six set balls, as well as an early break in the second set.
Sofia: Struff and Otte in action today
At the 250 event, Jannik Sinner is top seeded, he intervenes in the game today.
From a German perspective, Jan-Lennard Struff and Oscar Otte are also at the start after their opening victories. Struff meets Ugo Humbert, Otte plays against Kamil Majchrzak.