Fabio Fognini enjoyed a great 2019 season highlighted by his first Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo, but he faced a difficult season in which he played just 16 matches in 2020 because of a positive test to the covid-19 pandemic and a surgery on his ankle. The world number 17 is getting ready to the 2021 season under the guidance of his new coach Alberto Mancini, a former winner of the Rome and Monte-Carlo titles in 1989.
“The day I left the hospital on a wheelchair, I feared that my career could be over. I have to start from scratch and I am looking forward to 2021”, said Fognini to the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Fognini is optimistic about the future of his career and Italian tennis.
“Corrado Barazzutti cannot not follow me during the whole season and I need a coach who can travel with me on the Tour. Ranking is not a priority. I will struggle at the beginning of the season. The goal is to return to my best shape for the clay season and remain in the top 30 to be seeded at Grand Slam tournaments. The pandemic has not been defeated and the calendar is the great unknown. Without the support of my family I would not have managed to return to the court. I don’t think I will work as coach. I will continue playing for three more years. Italian tennis has a good future. Jannik Sinner is very strong. I hope he will keep up the honour of Italian tennis. I played against Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Del Potro, Wawrinka and Murray, but these players will end their career in five years. For him it will be easier to achieve good results, because he will not have to face the Big Three in the years to come”, said Fognini
Turin will host the ATP Finals from 2021 to 2025 and it will be an important goal for the best Italian players. Italy has two players in the top 20 and four in the top 40 (Matteo Berrettini number 10, Fabio Fognini number 17, Lorenzo Sonego number 33, Jannik Sinner number 37). “It would be a dream to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin. I gave the priority to the goal of qualifying for the ATP Finals in 2019 and it did not bring me luck. If I could choose, I would prefer a win in Monte-Carlo”,concluded Fognini.
