Fabio Fognini is eager to reach the top again

Former world no. 9 and Monte Carlo champion Fabio Fognini is ready for a fresh start at 33, adding Alberto Mancini and Alejandro Lacour to his coaching staff.

The 33-year-old Italian will finish the year in the top-20 after keeping his 2019 points, scoring only six wins in the season behind us, undergoing arthroscopic surgery on both ankles on May 30 and losing four out of five matches since the season restart in August. Starting all over, Fognini will try to reach the top again in 2021, picking a former world no. 8 Alberto Mancini as his coach ahead of the new season.

Confident in Fabio's abilities, Mancini will try to draw the best from his pupil and make him a contender for the notable titles in the next couple of years. Fognini is motivated to get back into the top-10, feeling he still has a couple of good years in front of him and kicking off the action in Antalya in the opening week of January.

"Fabio's manager Ugo Colombini contacted me and told me that Fabio was looking for a new coaching staff. My name was Fabio's first choice. His talent and natural abilities match his desire to get back at 100%. He is motivated to give his best in his last couple of years before he retires, setting high goals. The pandemic gave us time to reconsider and put ourselves in a different place. I think Fabio realized that he still has a lot to offer and fight for.

If he can maintain a fitness level throughout the year, he can be a contender at notable tournaments. Fabio has excellent anticipation, quickness and the ability to accommodate. He is an aggressive player, and when his game is on, Fabio generates much power and breaks his rival's rhythm. At the moment, Fabio is focused on physical shape after such a long break from tennis.

That's why we work hard to achieve that and avoid potential injuries. Also, Fabio can't stay on the practice court for hours; he likes quality time out there, and we have to keep him motivated. Fabio would love to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin next year, hoping to challenge the rivals from the top but taking it step by step. A wonderful challenge is ahead of us, and we can't way to take it," Alberto Mancini said.