Olympia: Matteo Berrettini, Fabio Fognini and a bit thick air in the Italian team
In the Italian team there is a bit of a bad atmosphere in the run-up to the Olympic Games in Tokyo: The main reason for this isMatteo Berrettini's cancellation, which Fabio Fognini pissed off.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit:
Jul 22, 2021, 10:44 pm
For a long time everything in Italian men's tennis seemed to be going according to plan, but there is a little bit of controversy ahead of the Olympic Games: Fabio Fognini was anything but happy about the injury-related last-minute cancellation of Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, he can after all, don't take part in the double competition.
"I don't want to comment on Matteo's decision. His decision to withdraw also affects me because I can't play doubles. With him here, the chances of seeing Italy on the podium would have been greater - even in singles. (...) I don't want to comment, otherwise I'll quickly find myself in the controversy, "Fognini explained in an interview with la Repubbblica .
Fognini cannot understand Sinner's decision
The 34-year-old didn't want to leave it at that: "I don't know anything about Matteo's problem because I haven't heard from him. I have my opinion and I keep it to myself." However, Fognini is still waiting for a call from his compatriot because he found out about the rejection in the newspaper. He wishes Berrettini a quick recovery, so the world number 31.
He also couldn't understand Jannik Sinner's decision to skip the Olympic Games. "These are personal decisions that have to be respected. But I don't agree with them. I've always given everything for the national team. I've never withdrawn. I came to Tokyo even though I'm not in my best shape can lose in the first round or win a medal. In any case, I know that I did my best, "said Fognini, who will meet Yuichi Sugita first.