Italy’s top tennis player says he understands why the French Open starts on a Sunday unlike other Grand Slams but he is not a fan of it.
Fabio Fognini spoke about the scheduling of the tournament following his 6-4, 6-1, 6-4, win over France’s Grégoire Barrère in the first round. Making it the 61st match he has won in the main draw of a major tournament. Playing in one of the first matches to start the 2021 tournament, he hit 31 winners to 52 unforced errors and won 67% of his first service points.
This year is Fognini’s 14th appearance at Roland Garros with his best run being to the quarter-finals back in 2011. In his view he would rather the French Open keep in line with the other majors by starting on a Monday. The reason why the clay court major doesn’t is because it staggers the first round matches over three days and maximise the number of visitors on the Sunday when more people are not working.
“It’s a tricky situation. Now the tournament, they like us playing on Sunday because I think for the money because with the public, of course, people have a chance to come and watch us play. But it is something that personally I don’t like,” Fognini said during his press conference.
Despite not being overall keen about the Sunday start, Fognini did have the advantage of already being in the area. Last week he took part in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown which was held at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy.
“I was telling my coach it’s (playing on Sunday) better because I was home. I was doing this exhibition in Mouratoglou two days, and I was ready,” he said.
“Once you’re here I prefer to play as soon as possible because day by day you get tense, start thinking about the match and how it works.’
“I’m here to play. Doesn’t matter if I play Monday or Tuesday. But generally, if you ask me about whole apple, I have to say I don’t like it. I prefer to play Monday or Tuesday. But this is my own small opinion.”
34-year-old Fognini’s win-loss record for 2021 now stands at 13-12. He has only reached one quarter-final so far this year which was at the Monte Carlo Masters in April. Although he did reach the fourth round of the Australian Open.
