Fabio Fognini at the Diriyah Tennis Cup: The full package

The Diriyah Tennis Cup was opened on Thursday by Fabio Fognini. In his match against John Isner, the Italian delivered exactly what was expected of him: spectacular tennis if he was happy. And theatrical if not.

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Fognini doesn't have it easy in Diriyah in the suburb of Riyadh. Line judges are missing from the invitation tournament there. They are replaced by an automatic Hawk Eye, and the weird-sounding calls made via loudspeakers are known, for example from the ATP NextGen Finals.

Linesmen are essential for Fognini's game. In difficult phases of a match - let's face it, every player has one - he likes to turn to them. He engages them in conversations, blaming them for the loss of points. Fognini needs that in a match.

At first he did not notice that they were missing when he appeared in Diriyah. In the third game one of his foreheads was given out - by the live Hawkeye mentioned. He reflexively raised his arm and said the supposed magic word to the chair umpire: "Challenge!". It took a few moments for the referee Fognini to explain how the rabbit runs in Saudi Arabia.

Fabio Fognini at the Diriyah Tennis Cup: "I'm a little sick"

The organizers came up with some things that are not known on the regular tour: so-called close calls, automatic recordings on the video screen with a hawk-eye sequence for tight balls. Accompanied by music. Music after each ace. Music after an even number of games played.

Music even after the first game of a sentence, which Fognini immediately saw as an opportunity to sit on his bench. The referee had to start him from his comfortable seat again, he reluctantly got up again and continued to play.

Before that - before the start of the match - John Isner had to explain to the ball children that Fognini started to serve. The balls were all still on the side of the 2.08 meter man. "The ball kids were great," said a cool Isner addressed by tennisnet about the situation. "Don't forget, it was probably the first time for her. It's a good feeling that new people come into contact with the sport here. ”

Fognini made the break in the first set, but then let himself be too distracted by everything else that happened around the square. Between the dots, he looked at his physiotherapist, looked at the camera or looked at the magnificent grandstand in the VIP zone. Only he didn't look at Isner.

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He also looked at Stan Wawrinka, who wanted to watch the opening match live, and tried to chat with him between the points. He promptly provided the best rally of the match when he surprisingly stormed the net and finished the point with a forehand volley. Give the showman an audience and he delivers.

But when Wawrinka disappeared again, it was also about the concentration of Fognini. In a break lead he gave up his serve and even brought the physio onto the pitch. An ankle injury plagued him in the last few weeks of the past season, but he still avoided surgery.

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Fognini got a tablet from the doctor, but after the match clarified: "It was for the throat." Somehow, as a journalist, you can't get rid of the feeling that Fognini will take you on the shovel when he speaks. "I'm a little sick," he added quickly. Maybe he doesn't mean his body at all.

In the second movement, an imam was heard on the center court who called for ritual prayer in the nearby mosque. Fognini was not distracted by this and got a break and a little later with a 7: 6, 6: 4 victory in the first professional match on Saudi Arabian soil. He has already secured a prize money of $ 250,000.

"It was cold. And it was windy. The conditions were very different than in training. But I feel good and want to improve my game further, ”he said after the match, without forgetting:“ I actually hate to play against such big players. ”

Fabio Fognini: "I am happy with my life"

After a season with the first entry into the top 10 of the ATP ranking and his first Masters tournament win in Monte Carlo, further highlights are to follow in the coming year. "A second baby," said a beaming Fognini when asked what he expected from the new season.

His wife, the 2015 Flavia Pennetta US Open winner, is expecting birth in a few weeks. Therefore Fognini could miss the ATP Cup, he has not yet finalized the tournament planning.

In terms of sport, Fognini is "relaxed" and "in a good mood". Due to Pennetta's pregnancy, he had given up a vacation and spent his free time in the adopted home of Barcelona. When asked about his job, the now 32-year-old Fognini still thinks big.

“Hopefully a young player will come and help me win the Davis Cup. It would be a big dream, ”he said. Italy could have found just such a man in Matteo Berrettini. "I still enjoy tennis very much, I am happy with my life, and maybe I can bring something together in a Grand Slam."

In the Diriyah semi-final, Fognini meets Gael Monfils, who defeated his good friend Stan Wawrinka 6: 3, 6: 3 in a very funny match. Isner plays against Wawrinka in the consolidation round.

In the second half of the tournament Daniil Medvedev stands after a 6: 3, 6: 1 against Jan-Lennard Struff in the semifinals. There he plays against David Goffin, who scored Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-4. The Frenchman is Struffs' opponent on Friday.

Tennis in Saudi Arabia: Thursday's results (quarter-finals)