Fabio Fognini and the sluggish "new beginning"
Fabio Fognini didn't really get going after his ankle surgery last season. Well, in 2021, the Italian wants to attack again.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 12, 2021, 07:52 am
2019 was the year of Fabio Fognini. After his strong performances during the European clay court season - above all his ATP Masters 1000 title win in Monte Carlo - the Italian made it into the top ten of the ATP rankings for the first time - and at the age of 32 as the oldest player since 1973. Already during this high-altitude flight made the world number 17. but creating his ankles.
Problems that finally forced him to have an operation during the COVID-19-related interruption of the ATP tour in the spring and summer of the previous year. Not an easy decision for the lively clay court specialist, as he explained: "If you have an operation, especially at 33, you never know what will happen," said the Italian in the run-up to the Antalya Open, where he had opened his season these days . With the operation there would have been a fresh start for him, says Fognini.
Slow restart
In Kitzbühel in September last year, the 33-year-old should finally make his comeback. A comeback that was mainly characterized by setbacks. Fognini won only one of his five matches in the second part of the 2020 calendar year, so the Italian had to say goodbye to the top 10 in the world rankings. Today Fognini admits that he went into these tournaments with no expectations, his left foot would have been around 75%, his right foot only 50%.
"I knew I wasn't 100% during the clay court season, so I accepted any result that came up," said Fognini. Well, with a seven-week preparation for the season, things should go uphill again for the Italian, at least the first match of the year was won by the 33-year-old in Antalya, but round three should be the last stop against Jeremy Chardy.
Mostly painless on lap one
After Fognini was able to defeat Michael Vrbensky, number 311 in the ATP charts, in round two, he was surprisingly happy with his game. "I'm happy because every match is important to me now, especially when I've won a close match," said the world number 17. compared to the ATP. For the most part he felt free of pain and was able to sprint - "That's the best thing about today."
This is exactly what gives the 33-year-old confidence for the coming season, as he emphasized: "I know that my tennis always gives me an answer when I ask something of my tennis," explained Fognini. "I know if I feel good physically again during these types of matches like today, the results are sure to come."