Fabio Fognini

Fabio Fognini is one of those players who’s been around for a long time yet, at some level, underachieved through the course of his tennis career. He turned pro in 2004 and, currently at the age of 34, is still going strong on the ATP Tour circuit. However, a total of 14 career titles – 9 in singles and 5 in doubles – is a slightly underwhelming return. Nevertheless, he has always been a consistent threat on the tour and has maintained a steady ranking on the ATP charts. His highest ranking was 9 in 2019 and he currently sits comfortably in the top 50.

Born in the city of Sanremo in Italy, Fognini took up the sport at the age of 4 years old. Before turning pro in 2004, his junior ranking topped out at Number 8. He made it to the quarters of both the junior French Open and Australian Open. Incidentally, this was very much a sign of things to come.

Fognini’s game-play is best suited to red clay courts, which is where he has tasted most of his success. Indeed, 8 of his 9 titles in singles events came on clay. Weirdly enough, despite being a proficient clay court player, he’s never made much progress in the French Open. His best showing in that particular Grand Slam came in 2011, when he made the quarterfinals.

Nevertheless, in ATP events held on clay, he’s always been a threat. And although he was something of a late bloomer – he made his first final in 2012, eight years after turning pro – he put together a decent run of form since that time. His first title win came a year later when he won the Stuttgart Open. He followed this up with a win in the German Open, an ATP 500 event; the Stuttgart event was an ATP 250.

A Chile Open win followed in 2014 before his fourth title came in 2016 at the Croatia Open. 2017 saw him win the Swiss Open before 2018 saw him bag 3 titles – the Brasil Open, Swedish Open and the Los Cabos Open. The final of those was his maiden title win on a surface aside from clay. In 2019 he would win the Monte-Carlo Masters, another clay title but notable his first ATP 1000 Masters title win.

However, his maiden Grand Slam success came in the 2015 Australian Open where he won the men’s doubles title with compatriot Simone Bolelli. As a result, the pair became the first Italian duo to win a Grand Slam title in the Open Era.

Fognini’s style of play revolves mostly around playing strongly on the baseline. He prefers a forehand shot but his backhand down the line can often be used as a winner. His serve isn’t great but it is consistent and not necessarily a weak point.

What can be considered a weak point is his temperament, which on more than one occasion has gotten him into trouble. That and his propensity for foot faults hold him back.

Singles:

Australian Open – made it to the fourth round in 2014, 2018, 2020 and 2021
French Open – quarterfinalist in 2011
Wimbledon – made it to the third round in 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2021
US Open – made it to the fourth round in 2015

Doubles:

Australian Open – won in 2015
French Open – semi-finalist in 2015
Wimbledon – made it to the second round in 2014
US Open – semi-finalist in 2011