Tennis: Fabio Fognini announces his retirement at 38: his farewell press conference

Fabio Fognini , 38, officially announced his retirement from professional tennis at Wimbledon 2025, following an epic first-round defeat of Carlos Alcaraz. His farewell press conference was held today, marking the conclusion of his long and passionate career.

Fognini bids farewell to tennis: a career of talent and triumphs

Fabio Fognini officially ends his long professional tennis career, leaving behind a career studded with successes and iconic moments. The Ligurian bows out with nine ATP titles under his belt, including the prestigious Monte Carlo Masters 1000 title won in 2019 , a feat that cemented him among the circuit's greats.

In doubles, alongside friend and compatriot Simone Bolelli , he achieved a historic triumph at the 2015 Australian Open , becoming one of the most successful Italian pairs in recent history. In Grand Slam tournaments, his best singles run dates back to the 2011 Roland Garros , when he reached the quarterfinals, proving his worth even on the Parisian clay.

In July 2019, he reached the peak of the world rankings, entering the ATP Top 10 with a deserved 9th place: a historic achievement for Italian men's tennis, which had been missing for over forty years.

Tennis: Fabio Fognini announces his retirement at 38: his farewell press conference

“Today it's official, I'm saying goodbye to you all. I think this is the best way to say goodbye . The last few years of my career have been difficult, the time has come to be honest with myself. After the match with Alcaraz, I don't want to go back . I've had some drops in the rankings. I love this sport and my motivation is still high; tennis has been with me my whole life. I have so many beautiful memories that I hold dear, something special. But I knew this day would come.”

He adds that tennis has been with him his whole life and will continue to do so, bringing with it many wonderful memories. He recalls playing in the era of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer, the best of all time, and says he's lucky to have lived through that period.

“My goal was to retire in Monte Carlo next year, but that's life. I'm happy to say goodbye now. I wo n't be playing any more tournaments; I'm leaving today . I've suffered a lot from injuries in recent years, and at my age, it's becoming increasingly difficult. I think this is the best decision I could make. I played on the most beautiful court in the world; it's the perfect farewell.”