THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2025

Fabio Fognini

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Fabio, I know you'd like to say a few words at the start.

FABIO FOGNINI: I would like to say few words, yes, guys. Hello and thank you for coming.

I was here week ago probably, more than a week ago, and I left something. I think today is something then is official. I say good-bye to everybody.

Yes, I mean, it's something that was in my mind already. You guys know. This week with my family, first week of Wimbledon was really busy, more than tennis, because Flavia was working for TV and I was home. I have no time left to thinking about what I did.

I think is the best way to say good-bye.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. How happy are you that your son was here to see that final match and have that last memory of you on court that way?

FABIO FOGNINI: I'm happy, for sure. I mean, is something that is going to be in my mind, but in my head forever. We speak about the match, but not enough. Because right after I was out from here, he asked me to go to dinner sushi, so we went sushi (smiling).

Yeah, nothing. I mean, we just tried to speak about tennis, about everything that it's possible to speak with him because he's eight-year-old. He understand something. He understand that he going to see me a lot more now.

Yeah, the picture that I will keep forever with me is the picture that family was here. I was unlucky, of course, that my parents was not able to came because with kids, Flavia was here, the two other one with the nanny was home, my sister was home with two kids.

Yes, as I said before, wasn't easy because the last three years of my career I was suffering a lot with injury. But as a competitor, I tried to do my best every time I step on court.

But yeah, now I have to be honest with myself. I was not really positive, but now I have to be. I have to congratulate myself and say after that match I don't want to come back in some stage that I don't want to be there.

Challenger, for sure, because after this tournament I going to drop a lot with the ranking. Motivation is still high because I love the competition. I will still love this sport that give me my entire life. I did this one since when I was a kid. For sure I have a lot of memory inside of my head, so...

Yes, it's something special that I was knowing this day is going to come.

Q. Your wife, she had one of the best way to say farewell in the history of tennis. I was wondering what she said to you when you decided your retirement, especially after that amazing match against Alcaraz here. Also, it's been a while when she retired. With her retirement, maybe you picture yourself retiring in the future.

FABIO FOGNINI: It's not easy to say. I mean, was the perfect way to say good-bye to this sport. As I say, last Monday here, I was able to play in an era that probably is going to be the best era forever in the sport. I play against Roger, against Rafa, against Nole. Winning a slam for me was impossible. I have to be honest (smiling).

I speak with her two days ago. Two days ago I was tell him that this was my decision. I think every decision that you make is my work. She say, Okay, you have to shoot.

We didn't speak a lot because, as I say, is my job. For sure my best dream was finishing next year in Monte-Carlo. The main goal was that one because I was able to win the tournament. I'm growing up there. Family, friends, I'm living really close from there.

But that's it. It was not possible. I'm happy the way I say good-bye to the professional tennis career. I did my best. Sometimes was, okay, as we say... I mean, is difficult now to say a lot of words of that. A lot of emotion are in my mind.

Yeah, the last 10 day I didn't sleep so well. That's all for the moment.

Q. One clarification. Is your retirement effective immediately; you won't participate in any more tournaments?

FABIO FOGNINI: No, I'm not. I'm leaving today after the Djokovic-Cobolli. I going to leave the stage. I'm here to support him.

At the moment this is my decision.

Q. How would you describe your relationship with Cobolli and his development as a player going into this big match?

FABIO FOGNINI: I mean, everybody saw his improvement. I mean, I would love to have conversation with him before the match. But I think he have to know that he is not here to go on court and, I mean, as we say, (indiscernible) during a quarterfinal against the best player in the world. So he's here because he deserve to stay here. He's improve a lot in the last especially six month with the result that he did.

Yes, I think he's one of the first guy, young guy, that I try to help him because after the surgery, I remember the time when I was in Roma with Barazzutti, I was practicing with him with Matteo Gigante a lot of time. Now from outside is very beautiful to saw him play in a big stage like this with the best player in the world.

Q. Your relationship with him?

FABIO FOGNINI: Everybody. This kind of guy could be probably my... They're really young. Relationships is really good. He's 20-something, so relationship is good. I wish him all the best for his future. Hopefully today he's going to play one of the best of his career. Everybody know that is really difficult because at this stage of the tournament, the guys like Djokovic are really on fire, so...

Let's see. Let's hope. Let's hope he's enjoy the match and try his best.

Q. John McEnroe said he spoke to Flavia. Did you hear about those comments from John? Did you speak to him or anyone else? Did that impact your decision at all?

FABIO FOGNINI: No. I would love. John is one of my best idol, for sure. Hope to met him today. I mean, I'm here until tomorrow, so hopefully I have a chance to meet him.

Q. What did it mean to you to finish in the way that you did on Centre Court at Wimbledon against Alcaraz? You talked about playing the top three in the course of your career. Who was the best one you played?

FABIO FOGNINI: I mean, I say everything before. I mean, the night before Carlos, my best wishes was, Okay, try to enjoy, try to play your best tennis.

I think everything was in the perfect way to let me think about this decision because... I say everything.

I suffering a lot with injury in the last three years of my career. As a competitor, I try to push myself every time after big injury. At the age of 35, 36, 38, it's not easy.

But I think, yeah, that's the best decision that I did at the moment, play in the most beautiful court in the world with a guy that everybody know. Is the perfect picture that we keep forever in my room.