The freezing of the ranking in a pandemic year helped Fabio Fognini finish 17th this season.

However, that was little solace in a forgettable year for the veteran Italian tennis star.

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Surgery on both ankles kept him out of the game for a spell and also made it difficult for him to string consistent performances on return.

His time away from action helped him reflect on his game and assess his partnership with coach Carlo Barazzutti.

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And it now turns out that the Italian has parted ways with Barazzutti and has hired Argentinian Alberto Mancini as his new coach.

In a picture posted on his Instagram page, Fognini is seen with his new coach.

He also announced Alejandro Lacour as his new physical trainer.

Fognini wants to make a strong return to the Tour

His decision to enlist the services of a new coach is a huge statement of intent on rising from the lows and making a strong return to the circuit.

Surgeries on both ankles, at 33, would prompt many into introspection on their future in the game.

However, the holder of nine career Tour titles isn’t one of them.

The change of coach has come as affirmation that the Italian is willing to do the hard yards and compete for titles again.

The Italian is keen to bounce ideas off his new coach and make a winning return to the Tour in 2021.

His last title on the ATP circuit came at the Masters 1000 event in Monte Carlo in 2019. It was his maiden Masters crown.

2018 was his most fruitful year on the Tour in the recent past as he won three titles at Los Cabos, Bastad and Sao Paulo.

Despite dodgy ankles, Fognini ain’t done yet

The 33-year-old Italian had taken to Twitter to say that his ankles had been bothering him for more than three years on the circuit.

He said after due consultations with his medical team he decided to opt for surgery.

In a further setback, the Italian announced that he had contracted Covid-19 this year.

His virus fight saw him take a two-month break from tennis.

Nicknamed ‘Fogna’, the Italian achieved a career-high ranking of Number 7 on July 20, 2015.

Fognini is married to former Italian tennis star Flavia Panetta.