“My life between the lines”

“In 2014 I received one of the Wimbledon biggest fines for smashing a racquet and in 2017 the second biggest US Open fine for insulting a female chair umpire. I’m not proud of these record, I’m actually ashamed of them”

The very first match Fognini played as a pro in 2002 was against Florian Allgauer.

Allgauer had a girlfriend back then:

Flavia Pennetta

2003: “I meet Nadal at the USOpen, he is playing the simulator. I ask him if he wants to play it me. He thinks I want to train with him. That’s the first time we ever played”

“Hard to describe how Rafa plays but if I had to use just one word I would say Savage. A vulcano energy explosion guided by discipline and method”.

“Nadal plays every point in training as they were Grand Slam championship points. Tennis for him is a very serious business”

“I love Safin , he is a genius, he is always surrounded by beautiful women and he considers me his friend and never refuse to train with me”

“The other players consider me a lazy guy and I always struggled to find training partners. Fognini wants to train today? His he gonna put some efforts?”

“Andy Murray was arrogant since young age. A guy all lobs and dropshots, tricky shots designed to mock you”

“Murray and I never got along. We are two hotheads and we lose our cool pretty quickly. When we are on court we despise each other”

“Once i was so mad for a loss in Australia that I paid 2000€ extra to change my flight from business to economy to leave on the first available flight”

“Seppi and I couldn’t be more different: he is from Tirol, he is bristly, silent and humble. I mock him just for fun but he never smiles, neither gets offended. He doesn’t let you into his world and I often have the feeling I’m talking to a wall”

“After his marriage Seppi character changed. He is now more affable, calm and keen to laugh. I admire him for many reasons, most of all for his stability. He plays tennis zen like.”

“Money comes only for the lucky ones that reach the top100. And real money, a lot of money, for those inside the top30.”

“Many people tried to convinced me to change residence to avoid taxes. My father always said: “you were born here and you have to stay here. You will pay a fortune? That would mean you would have earned a fortune. And you’ll be in peace with yourself”.

“Federer jokes all the time. “How good looking are you Fabio?” he mocks me. “If only I were as beautiful as you are”

“I met Flavia in Acapulco 2007. It was love at first sight for me but there were so many obstacles. First one: Carlos Moya, her boyfriend”

Side note: Flavia is 5 years older than Fabio and they both were into relationships at the time

“I’m always surprised by the difference between everyday life Federer and on court Federer. He is a kind man keen to have a laugh and a joke with everybody”

“Of all my defeats those with Roger are the ones i regret the least. I know I gave all I had every time and I lost again the best of all.”

“To one journalist in particular, one that seems to live out of what I say, I don’t answer any of his questions anymore. I expected retaliations from him and that happened.” (He is obviously referring to Ubaldo)

“I always had a difficult relationship with press and I honestly think I’m the one to blame the most”

"Murray is an incredible player. He moves magnificently and as a spider he can reach everywhere. he also defends like a God. It's like being on a highwave knowing that the only way to reach the destination is to go 200km per hour"

Since the Krajinovic incident (when Fognini called him "Fucking gipsy" (as he reports in the book)): "Filip and all his friends Troicki, Lajovic and Tipsarevic have been calling me "Gipsy". That is a memento to me that there are some things I should not do or say"

"Italy falls quickly in love with you and quickly betrays you. Italy transforms a mr. Nobody into an idol and takes him to the stars, so high that he can touch the sky and the next day it throws him to the ground and stomps him. In Italy: one mistake and an athlete is done"

"Not many know that Toni Nadal was really active during the matches. From his box he constantly talked to Rafa, gave him tips, supported him. That is coaching. Everybody knows, umpires included, but nobody acts because it's part of the game, as the lines and the net"

"Djokovic is tough. When you face him he crushes you. His rythm is strong that you can't think"

"The fact that Djokovic is not only a player but also a friend makes everything more difficult. My best matches with him are the ones we were side by side in Doubles"

"Djokovic, called Plastic man (In English in the book) by many for his ability to bend like he was made out of rubber, he has victory in his eyes and the world n.1 determination"

Fognini reveals in his book that Flavia and him married in a small ceremony in March 2016, 3 months before the church wedding.

That was done to let Fabio’s grandma attend the event as she couldn’t have travelled to the Ostuni wedding

The book is 225 pages and costs 17.50€. It doesn't reveal if Fognini has been helped by anyone writing it but it suggests that his new PR Giuseppe Marzo might be involved. That's it from me