fabio fognini

Biography

Overview

The highest-ranked Italian man since 1979, Fognini is set to make his Laver Cup debut for Team Europe in 2019. In career-best form in singles, the 32-year-old is also an accomplished doubles player with a career-high ranking of No.7. He is the only man to beat Rafael Nadal in a five-set Grand Slam match after losing the first two sets. 

Off court

Fognini began playing tennis when he was four. He married US Open 2015 women’s champion Flavia Pennetta in June 2016 and their son Federico was born in May 2017, three days after Fognini scored his first win over a No.1-ranked opponent (beating Andy Murray in Rome). He speaks four languages – Italian, English, Spanish and French.

Career

Perseverance has paid off handsomely for the Italian, who has finished in the world’s top 100 for the past 12 seasons. He has soared to new heights in 2019, winning his biggest career title in Monte Carlo in May and making his top-10 debut soon afterwards. Fognini is a Grand Slam doubles champion too, winning Australian Open 2015 alongside compatriot Simone Bolelli.

2019 Highlights

Winner: Monte Carlo
Quarterfinals: Auckland, Hamburg, Los Cabos, Montreal