After undergoing surgery on both his ankles, Fabio Fognini made an unsuccessful return post the tour’s resumption. Fognini lost in the opening round at the Italian Open as well as at Roland Garros and got ousted from the German Open in the second round. To make matters worse, the Italian tennis star contracted coronavirus and had to withdraw from Forte Village Sardegna Open in October. 

Despite the hardships, Fognini has started training for the next season and has hired the former Argentine Davis Cup captain, Alberto Mancini, as his new coach. Having worked with the likes of Mariano Puerta, Guillermo Coria, and Gaston Gaudio after turning into a coach, Mancini will bring immense experience to Fognini’s team.

Recently, during an interview, Mancini talked highly of his pupil’s game but revealed some areas of improvement. Standing 5ft 10 inches tall, Fognini is relatively shorter compared to fellow tennis players, hence Mancini is keen on improving Fognini’s ball throw to better his service.

“His reading of the game is impeccable and the power of his backhand, outstanding. He is not tall, so we will work to improve his serve, particularly his ball throw,” said Mancini. 

Previously, Fognini was working with his coach Franco Davin until their split at the end of 2019. Under Davin’s guidance, Fognini won five titles in their three-year tenure, including the tennis star’s maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at Monte Carlo last year.

Fabio Fognini eyeing a comeback

The 33-year-old Italian is preparing hard as per his new coach’s statement. Mancini contended that Fognini has training sessions scheduled with Jannik Sinner at the Piatti Academy and will train alongside Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka in Monte Carlo.

“We are currently in San Remo, but we also have training sessions scheduled in Bordighera, at the Piatti Academy together with Sinner, as well as in Monte Carlo with Dimitrov, Wawrinka, Djokovic and all the players who train there,” remarked Mancini, during the interview. 

Fognini is expected to play at the 2021 Australian Open, however, uncertainty looms on the tournament’s scheduling. World No.17 best result at Melbourne has been making it to the fourth round on three different occasions.

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