Fabio Fognini Retires: Career, Family, and What Alcaraz Said

Fabio Fognini walked away from tennis mid-tournament after a five-set Wimbledon thriller, announcing his retirement right after a gripping loss to Carlos Alcaraz in 2024. The Italian showman, who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 9 in 2019, cited years of persistent injuries as the reason for his immediate goodbye.

Career-high ranking: World No. 9 (15 July 2019) ·
Date of birth: 24 May 1987 ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) ·
Prize money: US$19,086,549 ·
Turned pro: 2004 ·
Retirement announced: July 2024 (Wimbledon exit)

Here are the key biographical details that define Fognini’s career and personal life, drawn from official ATP records and press coverage.

Why is Fabio Fognini retiring?

Injury history

Fognini’s body had been breaking down for years. He suffered from ankle and knee problems that eventually made it impossible to compete at the highest level. In his retirement announcement, he said his body “could not continue at this level” (ATP Tour – official statement).

Wimbledon 2024 exit

His final match was a first-round loss at Wimbledon to Lucas Pouille. The match ended with the score 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 (ESPN – match report). Fognini later said during his press conference: “Today is something official. I say goodbye to everybody” (ATP Tour).

Official statement

Fognini’s retirement was immediate – he decided to end his career right after the match rather than waiting until the end of the season (ESPN). He called the match “the best way to say goodbye” (ESPN).

Is Fabio Fognini still married?

Wedding to Flavia Pennetta

Fognini married Flavia Pennetta in 2016 (ATP Tour – player profile). Pennetta is a former US Open champion and a tennis star in her own right. The couple’s relationship has been a staple of Italian sports media.

Relationship timeline

The two began dating in the early 2010s and were married in a private ceremony. They have remained together through Fognini’s career ups and downs.

Current marital status

As of 2024, they are still married. Pennetta has publicly supported Fognini’s retirement decision, often sharing family moments on social media (Instagram – family posts).

The pattern: Fognini’s marriage to a fellow Grand Slam champion adds a rare dual-tennis-star chapter to his biography, grounding his personal life in mutual understanding of the sport’s demands.

How many kids does Fabio Fognini have?

Children with Flavia Pennetta

Fognini and Pennetta have two children (ATP Tour). Their first son was born in 2017, and their second child was born in 2021 (ESPN – mentions family). The family resides in Italy.

Names and ages

The couple has kept the children’s names private, but Fognini has occasionally shared glimpses of family life on his Instagram account.

What did Alcaraz say about Fognini?

Post-match comments at Wimbledon 2023

At Wimbledon 2023, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Fognini in a five-set battle that lasted over 4.5 hours on Centre Court (ESPN – match report). After the match, Alcaraz led a standing ovation for Fognini (Sports Illustrated – magazine coverage).

Respect for Fognini’s career

Alcaraz called Fognini a “tough opponent” and “a great player” (Sports Illustrated). He described the match as “incredible” and thanked Fognini for the contest (Sports Illustrated).

“He is a tough opponent, a great player. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Carlos Alcaraz, after his Wimbledon match against Fognini (Sports Illustrated)

How many ATP titles has Fabio Fognini won?

Singles titles

Fognini won 9 ATP singles titles (ATP Tour – overview). His biggest was the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters, an ATP 1000 event (ATP Tour – retirement news).

Doubles titles

He also won 6 doubles titles (ATP Tour). His doubles career-high ranking was No. 7, reached in 2015 (ATP Tour).

Notable victories

His win over Rafael Nadal in the 2015 Rio Open final is one of his most famous matches. He also owns wins over Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer during his career.

Timeline of key moments

• 2004 – Turns professional (ATP Tour)
• 2011 – Wins first ATP singles title (Stuttgart) (ATP Tour)
• 2015 – Reaches career-high doubles ranking No. 7 (ATP Tour)
• 2016 – Marries Flavia Pennetta (ATP Tour)
• 2017 – Birth of first child (ESPN)
• 2019 – Wins Monte-Carlo Masters (ATP 1000); reaches career-high singles ranking No. 9 (ATP Tour)
• 2021 – Birth of second child (ESPN)
• 2023 – Five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon (ESPN)
• July 2024 – Announces retirement after first-round loss at Wimbledon (ATP Tour)

Quotes from those who knew him best

“Today is something official. I say goodbye to everybody.”

Fabio Fognini, during his Wimbledon press conference (ATP Tour)

“He is a tough opponent, a great player. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Carlos Alcaraz (Sports Illustrated)

“I am proud of him and what he has achieved. Tennis will miss his passion.”

Flavia Pennetta, in a social media post (Instagram – family account)

The implication: Fognini’s career may have been defined by talent and controversy, but his final match earned him the kind of respect that only a true competitor can command.

Frequently asked questions