Fognini following Wimbledon loss to Alcaraz: “To finish here, I can’t ask for a better way”

Regardless of the fact that it ended in defeat, it’s hard to imagine a better final match for Fabio Fognini.

The 38-year-old went up against two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon first round on Monday afternoon in what was expected to be a thorough beatdown. After all, Alcaraz was on a 14-match winning streak at the All-England Club and he was also coming off titles at the French Open and Queen’s Club. Meanwhile, Fognini had not won a match on the main tour all season long and is down at No. 138 in the world.

But all of that could have been thrown out the window on Monday. Making his final appearance at the Championships, something close to the best version of Fognini decided to show up and put Alcaraz through the wringer for four hours and 37 minutes in front of a shocked but enthused Centre Court crowd. In the end, Alcaraz finally prevailed 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1.

Unlikely to get a wild card for the U.S. Open later this summer, Fognini may decide to retire right now–especially now that he has this potential concluding moment to savor.

“I think this probably [the] best way to say [goodbye] to Wimbledon, and maybe [to] tennis,” the Italian said during his post-match press conference. “That’s what I’m thinking now. (It) was (a) super amazing atmosphere over there. I enjoyed (it) a lot.

“(It) was really emotional. I have to be honest, I cry in the locker room. I cry. Because, as I say, I didn’t expect play five sets against him. The way I was coming here, I was no expectation because since I started this year after the injury, I was playing really bad. I didn’t win so many matches.

“There is no better way to play on this court with a great champion [whom] I have a lot of respect [for]–and for his team, because I know them very, very well.”

Alcaraz reciprocated those comments.

“I just told him that I have big respect [for] him,” the Spaniard said of Fognini. “He’s the best. Yeah, I have a big respect [for] 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.”