Fabio Fognini has announced that he will be out for a while after suffering a fracture in his left foot at the australian open. Fognini, 35, kicked off his 2023 season at the ASB Classic in Auckland before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
At the Australian Open, Fognini did not go far as he suffered a straight set loss to Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round. «Unfortunately in Melbourne I couldn’t compete as I wanted. My left foot gave me some problems.»
As soon as I returned to Italy I did other medical investigations and the doctors discovered an intra-articular fracture of the head of the first proximal phalanx of my left foot. Now my goal is to try to get fit as soon as possible,» Fognini announced on Instagram.
Fognini is 0-2 in 2023
Fognini, a former top 10 player, began his 2023 season in Auckland, where he led by one set before losing in three sets to Jenson Brooksby.
After losing in the first round in Auckland, Fognini left for Melbourne. In the first round of the Australian Open, Fognini didn’t stand a chance against Kokkinakis as the home favorite defeated the Italian 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. After the first two games, Fognini and Kokkinakis were tied at one game each.
Kokkinakis then went on a huge run getting four breaks in a row and won nine straight games to take a 6-1, 4-0 lead. Fognini served the fifth game of the second set to end Kokkinakis’ nine-game streak, but not much changed as the Aussie served to a two-set lead in the eighth game.
After easily winning the first two sets, Kokkinakis had no trouble closing out the match as he broke Fognini’s serve twice in the third set to complete a three-set victory. Fognini, who will turn 36 in May, will now miss some time. It remains to be seen when Fognini will be allowed back into action.
