"I think it’s a good time to say goodbye": Fabio Fognini confirms this year's Rome Open will be his last
ATPThursday, 08 May 2025 at 12:30
Italy’s veteran player Fabio Fognini has confirmed that this
year’s Rome Open will be his last appearance in the competition. The ATP 1000
event began on Wednesday, where top players from all over the world are participating
to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.
Veteran Italian player Fognini is one of those players who will
feature in the competition. The 37-year-old is set to begin his campaign
against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in the round of 128 clash on Thursday. Ahead
of his first match of the competition, Fognini revealed that this will be the last
time he will feature in this competition. He also highlighted his biggest
achievement while playing in the Italian capital, which included a win against Britain’s
Andy Murray in 2017.
“Since I was a kid I was coming here to say, ‘Oh let’s see,
let’s hope to play one day’. And now I’m in the opposite [time of my career]. I
think it’s a good time to say goodbye in this beautiful city, special city,” said
Fognini while speaking to Tennis Channel. “But yes, I’m here with a smile on my
face because I know that I had a really difficult time during my 15, I don’t
know, 16, 20 years in Rome and I would like to enjoy the last lap. One
[achievement] is for sure the victory in the night against Andy Murray when he
was No. 1 in the world. This one is in the special place, especially here in
Rome, for sure. I’d say it’s top three in my career.”
He continued by saying: “I live for [those] moments. My
character is like that. I play with passion, and sometimes too much. But I
think when I was playing my best tennis here, I think the crowd was really
happy to see me beating Andy. I beat Gael, I beat Tsonga, I beat a lot of good
players. Of course the dream since I was a kid was winning here. But if I have
to be honest, I have now and have in the future also the opportunity to say to
Federico and the two girls that I was able to play against Roger, against Rafa,
against Andy, against Novak, and this part of my career was really special.”
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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