Coaches Corner: How do you play successfully against Fabio Fognini?
Professional tennis coaches see more - which is why we simply ask how to play against the big players in the industry. In part 6 of our series, the Adidas scout - and coach Mats Merkel analyzes the Monte Carlo winner of 2019 Fabio Fognini .
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Apr 29, 2020, 04:57 pm
Anyone who, like Mats Merkel, has been a Scout for Adidas for many years will see most players who finally make it on the ATP or WTA tour at a very young age. Be it the Orange Bowl, the Eddie Herr International Junior Championship or the tournaments of Tennis Europe. But Merkel also has to deal professionally with the adults: be it as a companion of Dominic Thiem or, even during his time in Adidas, by Andy Murray. Fabio Fognini has already played us for the brand with the striking three stripes.
These are the particular strengths of Fabio Fognini
Fabio Fognini makes his opponents almost tired with the way he runs across the field. Many think that he often doesn't feel like it. But if you look at how hard he works outside of the field, it is no coincidence that he won Monte Carlo in 2019.
Fabio has an uncanny touch, but at the same time also an uncanny length in his strokes. And on the forehand he has an incredible acceleration, almost like a kind of "sling shot". It can shoot out of any position on the court and any physical position. Cross, longline, short-cross, with swirl, without swirl. He takes the balls in the climb, but can also let them drop and make them quickly. Fabio is an incredibly versatile player from the baseline.
How do you successfully play against Fabio Fognini?
The goal must be to play Fabio with many different types of spin and heights. The slice is also an effective means because it then has to lift the ball. He can't just put himself in there. And above all, you have to make sure that you return as many of your surcharges as possible. So that he doesn't get the feeling that he gets free points.
I don't know if Fabio is the fastest player on the ATP tour. Andy Murray was or was one of the fastest. Dominic Thiem is definitely extremely quick on the court too. But I think Fabio plays tennis like chess. Ultimately, it's nothing else. You lay down your opponent, ask questions - and based on the answers you get, you can save them: Aha, if I play the ball here, it will come back. But for that you also have the trainers and statisticians. Only: Fabio has been there forever. And knows exactly how to play against which opponent.
A few facts and figures about Fabio Fognini (the statistics refer to the last 52 weeks)
| Date of birth | Overall tournament wins | Tournament wins 2019 | Breakballs used | Return games won | Decision sentences won |
| May 24, 1987 | 9 | 1 (Monte Carlo) | 44.5% (ATP rank 7) | 24.6% (ATP rank 18) | 58.8% (ATP rank 22) |
Our expert
# IMG2 #