Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini announced his immediate retirement during a news conference at Wimbledon on Wednesday, a week after pushing defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to five sets in the tournament’s opening round. “This is the best way to say farewell,” the 38-year-old said at the All England Club, citing recurring injuries over the past three seasons. Fognini ends a 21-year professional career that peaked at No. 9 in the ATP rankings in July 2019. He captured nine Tour-level singles titles, highlighted by his run at the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters, the first Masters 1000 trophy ever won by an Italian man. In doubles he partnered Simone Bolelli to win the Australian Open in 2015. Known for his shot-making flair and on-court volatility, the Ligurian compiled a 426–396 singles record and earned 17 victories over top-10 opponents, including four against Rafael Nadal on clay. Fognini, who is married to former US Open champion Flavia Pennetta, said he plans to spend the summer with his family before deciding on future roles within the sport.