Fabio Fognini ended the season in the top-30 for the fourth time in five years and is the Italian Number 1 in the ATP Ranking. His 2017 season was highlighted by the semifinal in the Miami Masters 1000 tournament last March. He beat number 2 seed Kei Nishikori in the quarter finals to become the first Italian player to reach the semifinal in a Masters 1000 tournament on hard-court before losing to Rafael Nadal in straight sets. It was the second time in his career that Fognini reached a Masters 1000 semifinal four years after qualifying for the same stage in Montecarlo in 2013. He won the fifth title of his career in Gstaad last July beating German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann in the final and finished runner-up to Damir Dzumhur in the St- Petersburg final last September.
“It was a good season. I won a title in Gstaad and I played well on hard court especially at the start of the year. Despite my results it’s not enough for fans. I am used to it. The criticism always supersedes the congratulations. The problem is that in Italy there are passionate people, who are for or against a player, and not true sports fans. If one day I became the world number 1, Italian fans would not still be happy and would ask me to be number 0”, said Fognini during an interview to the Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport.
His season was marred by a suspension from the US Open due to unsportmanlike conduct against the umpire during the first round match against his compatriot Stefano Travaglia. The Grand Slam board provisionally suspended Fognini for two Grand Slam tournaments and fined him $96000 dollars for a Major Offence of Aggravated Beahviour”. The ban will be halved and the ban of two majors will be lifted is good behaviour is maintained through 2019.
“I was wrong, I wasn’t a good example, but I apologised and I paid for my mistake”.
During the 2017 Stockolm Indoor tournament Fognini beat Jack Sock in the quarter finals. The US player went on to win his first Masters 1000 title in Paris Bercy and qualified for the ATP Finals in London.
“Jack was able to clinch his opportunity and qualify for the ATP Finals. I can reach that level but I have to be more consistent. Unfortunately I got the injury when my form was improving. I could have achieved good results during the indoor season. I hope that I will stay healthy in 2018 and that the knee problem will heal soon. My goal for next season is to move up to the top 20 and remain in this position”.
During the interview Fognini reflected on the injuries that forced five top players Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Stan Wawrinka to end their season prematurely due to injury problems.
“The calendar is definitely long. I think that if the season would be halted midway, for about two weeks. The Davis Cup’s schedule could fit in one week entirely, it would work well for everyone. Players, who complain about too many matches and then end the year playing exhibitions all over the world bother me”.
Fognini made a comment on the new rules introduced during the Next Gen Finals.
“The killer point at 40-40 would be the easiest rule to introduce. I would adopt the shot clock but I know that Nadal would not be very happy”, said Fognini smiling.
