“I cried in locker room” – Fognini bids adieu to Wimbledon, earns Alcaraz’s respect with marathon battle
The 38-year-old Fabio Fognini pushed an in-form Carlos Alcaraz to five sets in his final appearance at the Championships
Fabio Fognini and Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon | © SPP /Psnewz
It’s one thing for an athlete to retire in tears, but sweating it out for the final time is another, and Fabio Fognini stepped up for the latter on Monday to bid adieu to the storied stage of Wimbledon.
The Italian made his farewell count, nearly pulling off a miracle against two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the first round.
Fognini, aged 38 and in his last year on tour, pushed the red-hot Alcaraz to a fifth set at Centre Court. He engaged the reigning Roland-Garros champion for four hours, 27 minutes, creating a staggering 21 break points. He hit 53 winners, one more than the Spaniard, and averaged 56 percent on the second-serve points to his opponent’s 52 percent.
Alcaraz, however, managed to level up in the decider to win 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1, and brought Fognini’s Wimbledon journey, which began in 2008, to a close.
After the match, the Spaniard directed all the applause to Fognini and also spoke highly of him during the post-match press conference.
“I knew at the beginning that it was going to be really difficult playing against Fabio,” the two-time defending champion said. “Doesn’t matter, I mean, it’s his last year, his last tournaments. The talent that Fabio has is immense. In every match he can show his best tennis. I think today he has shown one of his best tennis.
“I told him that I have big respect to him. He’s the best. Yeah, I have a big respect to him. Everything that he has done in his career, what he has done today. I love watching him play. I’m just glad to have shared the court once again with him, that I have shared the locker rooms, the tournament with him.
Just amazing. Just have big respect to him.”
A touch of class from Carlos Alcaraz, who leads the applause for Fabio Fognini 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ZiRn7ya2aJ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2025
I didn’t expect to play five sets against him.”
Fabio Fognini
Fognini, on the other hand, overwhelmed himself with his effort as he didn’t give himself a chance against the youngster, to begin with. Also, Alcaraz’s gesture on the court filled him with emotions that he let out in the locker room.
“Oh, was really emotional. I have to be honest, I cry [cried] in the locker room. I cry. Because, as I say, I didn’t expect [to] play five set[s] against him. I have to be honest. The way I was coming here, I was no expectation because since I start the year this year, after the injury, I was playing really bad. I didn’t won so many matches,” the Italian told the press, adding:
“So I say, okay. I was seven out at the beginning here in Wimbledon. I get in few last. I say before, there is no better way to play in this court with a great champion that I have a lot of respect with him and for his team, because I know them very, very well.”
Fognini, a former world No 7, campaigned at the Championships 15 times, making the third round on seven occasions.
