Fabio Fognini (2:26)

Well, you know better than me, for sure. No, but was the last, I think three years of my career was really tough because of injury and especially the comeback of the injury. You know, it Took, like, more and more. More time to get in shape. And yeah, Wimble was crazy. I mean. I mean, that match, if I have to be honest, I never see myself again after this match on replay. Zero. And yeah, I played this kind of match on grass. You remember, on grass, I never get through turn round in Wimbledon all my life. So I played this match, a crazy match. But I always say to everybody that I was lucky, very lucky that I lost this match, Andy, because if I was winning, next day was disaster. Disaster for sure.

Andy Roddick (3:20)

Yeah. I mean, it was. It. It was. It was fun for me to watch you kind of on full display one more time on your way out the door as someone who knows you and has played against you. It was. It was. It was cool for me to see. I saw the jaw come out, and I was like, if I'm being honest, Fabio, I was like, oh, please let this, like, let him get into this match. Don't let this be. Don't let this be like a 2, 2, 3.

Fabio Fognini (3:41)

On the. The night before, you know, the night before Flavia, The. Flavia came with the two kids because, I mean, Federico, the big one is really fun of. Okay, Carlitos and Janik, so it's not bad, actually. And I say. I say to them, of course, come. Come to London because it's a nice match. And. But I was not thinking that was my last match. So I say, papa, you're gonna lose. I'll say, thank you, Federico. And yeah, I mean, before sleepy asked me, the only thing that I have in my mind was, Fabio, please try to not losing, like, you know, six to six months, six, three. Try to play, I mean, your best tennis. And actually, I play, I think, the best match of my life. Not even on grass, but mostly in Grand Slam. So I was really surprised of myself. And then after that, I went. I went home and say, guys, I think there is no better way to say goodbye.

Andy Roddick (4:38)

I. I would agree from. From outside looking in. I think that's. That's accurate. You say it's the. You've ever played in your life in a Grand Slam. I mean, that's.

Fabio Fognini (4:45)

That's a lot. I think it's one of. Of the one.

Andy Roddick (4:48)

Okay.

Fabio Fognini (4:48)

I was one for sure was with Rafa.

Andy Roddick (4:50)

I was about to say, like, you're.

Fabio Fognini (4:51)

You.

Andy Roddick (4:51)

You've beaten Rafa in a slam from like a huge comeback. And you, you know, listen, as you're looking at. And this goes to. To your wife, Flavia Panetta, who's obviously U.S. open champion, too, as you look at where Italian tennis is now, right? And you're looking at, you know, Jannik and all the players, and you have, you know, 87 people in the top 100 and the growth and the tournaments. And are you filled with kind of a sense of pride? Because a lot of the players currently probably looked up to you and watched you. Do you feel a sense of pride with kind of how Italian tennis has been built and kind of. You were a part of leaving something in a better position than when you

Fabio Fognini (5:31)

started this one, for sure. See, I think, I think, yes, because, you know, I was, I was playing with, with you guys now. So I always being really honest without any, I mean, complaints sometimes on court, but outside I was, I was really on the way.

Andy Roddick (5:47)

Yeah.

Fabio Fognini (5:47)

So our, our time, I mean, I was nine in the world. But let's say if I. My dream was to play a good, good Grand Slam. No, but you know, if I was playing fourth round, I had you, Roger Rafa, Stan Delpo, Ferrer Ferrero. So I mean, I have like 10 guys in front of me and they say what the. What I have to do to play at least one quarter final or one semi final for Grassland. I'm not thinking about winning, okay? Because it was impossible. Was impossible, guys. I'm honest. And now, yes. I mean, the Italian movement on our sport is better than soccer. I mean, Janik, of course, is number one. So if you have one number one playing tennis, everybody want to play tennis. So this one, for sure, I am a little bit pride, let's say not at all, because I don't want to take all part. But yes, it was. Was really nice being in this era, because I think was one of the best era or our sport, let's say. But at the same time, when they asked me this question, I have to be honest and I say, guys, I did a lot of fourth round, one quarter final in Roland Garros that I can play with Noli, but play constantly quarter final, semifinal, or even imagine dreaming and winning as lamb was impossible.

Andy Roddick (7:17)

So one of the other stats that when I think back on your career, which is nuts, I remembered twice and one of our techie, Sean over here told me it was three times. You beat Rafa on clay three times. Is that correct?

Fabio Fognini (7:33)

I beat Rafa on clay, yes.

Andy Roddick (7:35)

That's like, how does, how do you go into that match where, okay, you just talked about everything being impossible because the players are so good. You come back from a couple sets down. If I remember correctly, against Rafa at the US Open, you beat him three times on clay. Why You. Why were you able to. To kind of have those results against Rafa when it was impossible for the rest of us?

Fabio Fognini (7:56)

Well, I don't know. I mean, that's a question that it's. It's tough to say, but I answer in this kind of. I mean, probably because, of course, my game was a bit, let's say, crazy or different or whatever. And I was knowing him really well. No, because I was living in Spain more than 10 years. I. the age when I was young, so I was not studying, but I was knowing him. Carlos Moya a lot, because I was studying him, was my favorite player. So I don't know, I was. I was. I think I had really clear my. My game against him. I know it's difficult. I lost to him like 14, 50 times, but the three times that I was lucky to beat him, I think my game was a bit. Let's say it was not really. How can I say, comfortable if you can say like that with this game, because, you know, Enclave was the best player in the world. He won women, okay? He won everything. But you know, my game at the time, sometimes, if I was, let's say, wake up with the right, wide, right foot, maybe it was not happy because we play a lot of matches. That was. I remember one final in he numbered and I lost. 7 5. 7 5. We played 2 hour and 40 minutes. It was cramping during the ceremony. So I was saying, okay, my game is probably. He don't like my game.

Andy Roddick (9:28)

Yeah, let's say. Yeah, it's not. It's not. I mean, it's all matchups. At a certain point, you have people you like playing and people you don't. But that's still pretty. Pretty crazy thing to be able to say. Listen, Mom's a U.S. open champion and dad beat Rafa a bunch of times. That's a. That's a pretty cool thing.

Fabio Fognini (9:41)

I mean, but in a different way. Let's say she have a trophy and I have a. I have only the check of women.

Andy Roddick (9:50)

Hey, listen, so obviously I. I love Rome. I loved playing in Rome, which is probably the only clay event that I can actually say that about.

Fabio Fognini (9:57)

I think every. Every Italian or like you, maybe your dream probably was winning your soul because you're American.

Andy Roddick (10:03)

Yeah.

Fabio Fognini (10:03)

And actually you did mother. And yeah, the dream for us was playing really good in Rome because it's the only big event that we have here.

Andy Roddick (10:19)

It's. It's the best. There are a lot of fans that come to the tournament. They want to live like a local Maybe not stay in a hotel. What's Fabio's cool neighborhood if someone's looking on Airbnb to stay in.

Fabio Fognini (10:31)

In Rome, actually I did the dancing with the starter. I was living here three months. So I say I have to buy house here because it's Romy. It's. I think it's one of the most beautiful city that the. Around the world. Around the world. I have to be honest. And was summer here. So I say, okay, we go see, we go beach and everything. So I start again on September and I was playing a lot of golf during the summer and I say, flavia, I go with my, with my stuff. I bring my stuff in Roma and sometimes I go to play golf. Impossible ending. I was, I was practicing more than tennis. I was practicing like four or five hours in a row like from Monday and Saturday was the show. And actually the only day that we have free was Sunday. So Sunday was taking the train to Milano. Three hours. The experience, believe me, was like 10. 10. Really? Really.

Andy Roddick (11:24)

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Fabio Fognini (12:53)

Really nice experience.

Andy Roddick (12:54)

Hey, listen, so we have this is our Thursday show. So we have fans send in some questions. I never know what the questions are. So what do we got? Producer Mike.

Producer Mike (13:04)

So let's kick off with a little bit of the Dancing with the Stars. Let's. Let's play a little clip because Stephanie did have a question for you relating to it. Wow.

Fabio Fognini (13:13)

Michael Jackson.

Andy Roddick (13:14)

Yes.

Producer Mike (13:17)

Look at those moves.

Andy Roddick (13:19)

I think he kept the jacket.

Producer Mike (13:20)

Zero swag. Zero swag.

Andy Roddick (13:22)

I mean this is.

Producer Mike (13:23)

Are you wearing that outfit right now?

Commercial Announcer (13:30)

Look that.

Producer Mike (13:32)

No way.

Andy Roddick (13:37)

No way. It's so good.

Producer Mike (13:42)

Yes. Come to America, dude. Dancing with the Stars.

Andy Roddick (13:45)

So good.

Fabio Fognini (13:49)

Mj.

Producer Mike (13:50)

It's so good, man.

Andy Roddick (13:52)

Did he come back to life or is that Fugnoni? What is what?

Fabio Fognini (13:57)

I just saw the movie two days ago in the cinema.

Andy Roddick (13:59)

Oh, was it good?

Fabio Fognini (14:01)

The Michael movie?

Andy Roddick (14:02)

How was it?

Fabio Fognini (14:02)

I was dancing actually in the cinema.

Andy Roddick (14:04)

That would be like my dream would be to randomly go to a movie and see. See Fudnoni dancing up and down the aisles.

Producer Mike (14:10)

So it would be Stephanie's dream too because she sent in this clip with the question was it harder preparing for a tennis match or learning new dance choreography each week?

Fabio Fognini (14:18)

No, no, completely the second one. But like Monday I was losing Monday to know the step. I mean the song or whatever. I say I don't care. I don't know about music. 0 so I was. Remember that the. Everything's in my mind and I say okay, I losing the step so I should know the step. Then the second one, then the third one. So mama. Yeah. Was. Was really. Was really, really tough. And actually the Friday before we had the. We have the general. How you say in the show. The general show with the. With everything. So like dressing and everything from the Saturday. So was. Was really tough guys. Was really tough. After two, three weeks I start to understand something, you know. But the first two, three weeks was my mommy. I can't imagine that. Can't imagine.

Andy Roddick (15:09)

So you mentioned going on Dancing with the Stars and that one of the kind of nice things about it was that maybe people didn't think you were just being a dick all the time. But I don't want us to totally forget about it cuz that petulance is something that I actually thought was hilarious all the time. Sean, do we have a question that maybe shows Fabio in full form with.

Producer Mike (15:32)

With.

Andy Roddick (15:32)

With tennis meltdowns and I'd like to hear his commentary after the fact.

Producer Mike (15:35)

Let's play this clip. And then we had a question from C related to this clip.

Fabio Fognini (15:39)

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Which clip? I can. This is the best clip ever.

Commercial Announcer 2 (15:59)

Sorry.

Fabio Fognini (16:08)

Pascal's laughing.

Andy Roddick (16:09)

I know.

Producer Mike (16:11)

What are you saying here?

Fabio Fognini (16:13)

I say how, how you can give me working. I'm a cast of five. Like, it's better. Don't say any. So you know that I invited him in in the show, in Dancing with the Star. He came.

Commercial Announcer 2 (16:24)

Yes.

Fabio Fognini (16:25)

I invite Pascal here in Roma during 19 start.

Andy Roddick (16:28)

That's like, I think I could do 45 minute show just on that interaction. What was, what was the question that

Producer Mike (16:34)

they so s wanted to know? Did it touch the line or was Pascal right?

Fabio Fognini (16:39)

No, for me it was good. Good. Ball was in. The ball was in, guys.

Andy Roddick (16:45)

The ball was Fabio, man.

Fabio Fognini (16:48)

12,000. 12,000. Fine.

Andy Roddick (16:50)

Other one, I watched some stuff back from. Like, I, like I would say terrible things. Like I would go after the umpire and I would. And then afterwards I would find them apart and everything was like, fine. Like behind the scenes. It always kind of works out. When you watch those clips back, is it funny to you or are you like, oh, God.

Fabio Fognini (17:08)

Well, well, well, well, well, well. I have to be honest, I serious now especially. No, this one is funny. Come on. I mean, but one, there is few of them that I regret. Yes. One, it was in US Open. The other one was actually, I think one in Hamburg. I didn't. I broke my racket really bad. So this, no, this was the best one, I think was really funny.

Andy Roddick (17:33)

How does your relationship with tennis change? Like when you're. When you're in your prime and you're nine in the world? Like, it's always the next week, the next week, the next week, the next week. And it. The, you know, at a certain point, like, I love playing tennis now because it's actually fun again.

Commercial Announcer (17:45)

Right.

Andy Roddick (17:45)

Like, it's actually. There's no consequence. During the last three years, when you were struggling with injuries, did you. Did it change your perspective on. On tennis and kind of what it was and what you wanted to get back to? Did you appreciate it more or was it just frustrating trying to get back?

Fabio Fognini (18:02)

I think it's both. Because. Frustrating, of course, you know, because when you, when you look back and you play in all this amazing stadium and you see now your. Your ranking is dropping like 85. So you do get into the master ,thousand and then 120 and you get the injury. So it's always, it's a mix of that because I was, I think tired of that because after the surgery of my ankle, I say, okay, let's try again, like a new second career. And actually I did. I actually went up to 60 something after that. But you Know, I mean, it's tough. It's tough. I was, I. I was dreaming, let's say to play the big tournament now because the age of 36, 37 playing challenger was really, really tough. Accept the consequence especially of the challenger, because most of that are guys of 2018 that are going up really fast. And you should play with guys like 20 years younger than you guys. So this one, you're. I. I think in my side and the body was feeling. Yes, I have to be faster. Okay, I'm fast. But if I go faster for one match, then the recovery of the second match is different than. Than before. And then, okay, two matches, three matches, and I was okay winning the challenge. I play final the challenge at the week because I was. I mean, I say I go home, guys, because I need 10 days recovery. So I think this one was. Was the tougher, let's say goal in the last three years was. I was practicing because I was practicing and myself was. Was really calm in this kind of term because I was saying, okay, I would like also to enjoy. No, but enjoy one thing. He's Enjoy playing, okay, one big match against Carlos in Wimbledon, okay, Even if I was losing, but. Or play one semi final challenger with no respect was really. Was really tough. This is. Was the two kind of situation that I had.

Andy Roddick (20:10)

Hey, Fugnoni, man, like, it's great catching up with you. I'm good to see. I'm happy to see that you're well. Please, please send our best to. To. To Flavia and kids and it's just

Fabio Fognini (20:21)

great to see the video now.

Andy Roddick (20:23)

I wish she. She would die laughing.

Producer Mike (20:25)

She.

Andy Roddick (20:25)

She lives. She lives for.

Fabio Fognini (20:26)

This one was one of the last ones. If you go there and you check for the salsa that I broke my T shirt and everything was really funny. It was really funny.

Andy Roddick (20:36)

Fabio, thanks for coming on, man. Appreciate you. Hope I see you soon. All right, buddy.

Fabio Fognini (20:41)

Thank you. Ciao, Ciao. Ciao, guys. Ciao, guys.

Andy Roddick (20:45)

I told you, Fuldnoni's a trip.

Producer Mike (20:46)

He was unbelievable. I would really love for him to come on America's Dancing with the Stars.

Andy Roddick (20:50)

There's no chance that that's gonna happen. And I'm ready to start a petition.

Producer Mike (20:55)

Dude, I honestly, I'm very, very jealous that all of these people get to go to Rome right now. So. Good. I mean, you went recently, right? Because you always went and stayed in hotels as a player, but then recently you went with your family. You found a place on Airbnb, like a cool house.

Andy Roddick (21:11)

Yeah, we. We actually stayed in the Monty neighborhood. Which is a little bit closer to all the tourist stuff. We went with our kids, who are, you know, 10 and 8 now. Totally different experience. It was so nice being in a place and being able to walk everywhere in two minutes. Our kids just absolutely ate it up.

Producer Mike (21:28)

The Coliseum and stuff.

Andy Roddick (21:29)

Yeah, we went. We would. Did all the things, and it was. It was amazing. I've done that as, like, a young adult. When I went over there and then doing it with your kids again, it was like, they totally got it. They were young, but they're walking around with the headsets and listening the historical tours and, like, completely dialed another neighborhood. That. That's, like, sick. If you happen to be going. Trostever is cool. It's not as kind of, like, maybe touristy as Monty, but it's a cool vibe. Little bohemian vibe. Totally up Brooks Alley.

Producer Mike (21:58)

Oh. Oh, that's nice. Yeah, it was a little window shopping. Some cool, romantic cobblestone streets.

Andy Roddick (22:05)

One of my favorite things, like, during my career, I was always in a rush. Like, you're in a rush to get there. You're in a rush to practice. You're in a rush to leave. Like, that was 14 years of my life. And actually going back to cities like Rome and Paris and London and actually having time to kind of like, melt into the cities and stay in them in a different way has been a real, real shot in the arm for the old. The old retirement, I'll tell you that much right now. It's been pretty sweet, man.

Producer Mike (22:30)

So. So fans are going over there right now. Pop into Monty, maybe trust A ver.

Andy Roddick (22:35)

Anyways, thanks for watching Q and A. I hope. I don't know we're gonna do next week. I don't know how you follow up the old Fadoni.

Producer Mike (22:41)

I mean, I love. He was unbelievable.

Andy Roddick (22:43)

I told you he wasn't gonna disappoint. He's the first person. I think Lindsey Davenport called me a bitch one time, but I think Fugnoni is the first person that's gotten to calling me a mother. Yeah. So here we are. Thanks for watching Survivors.