Fabio Fognini lambasts Madrid Open authorities for poor accommodation for players

Madrid Open authorities and ATP officials came under criticism about the accommodation for the players featuring in the competition. The mega-event is set to start in a few days' time, where players from all over the world will feature to secure the ultimate prize.

Italy’s veteran tennis player Fabio Fognini is already in Madrid to feature in the qualifying round to cement a spot in the main draw of the competition. The 37-year-old, in a post on his official account on social media, showed the facilities with a caption: "And after 20 years... voila'!!! @atptour what did u suggest?"

The arrangements came under criticism, more so because the Madrid Open is one of the only nine ATP 1000 events to be played in the calendar year. Last year, it was Russia’s Andrey Rublev who lifted the title after beating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

This year, the top-seed of the competition in the men’s singles category will be Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, especially because the reigning world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner will miss the tournament as he is currently serving a three-month ban after agreeing a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for failing two dope tests in March last year.

Alcaraz has an impressive record in the competition, having lifted the title twice. In 2022, he defeated current world number three Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-1. A year later in 2023, he once again lifted the Madrid Open, this time after beating another German player, Jan-Lennard Struff, in the final with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Former world number one Rafael Nadal, also known as the "King of Clay," is the most successful player in the competition’s history, having won it five times.