(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

Twenty-year ATP veteran and former top-10 player Fabio Fognini announced his retirement from tennis on Wednesday at the All England Club, the site of his final tour-level match.

The 38-year-old Italian, who rose to No. 9 in the ATP rankings in 2019, had previously announced that he would retire at the end of the 2025 season, but wound up bidding farewell after a thrilling five-set setback (7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-5, 2-6, 6-1) to Carlos Alcaraz in the first round of Wimbledon on June 30.

'Today is something official. I say goodbye to everybody,' Fognini said during a press conference held in London. 'It was the perfect way to say goodbye to this sport. I was able to play in an era that probably is going to be the best era forever in the sport. I played against Roger, against Rafa, against Nole.

'Winning a Slam for me was impossible. I have to be honest.'

Fognini won nine tour singles titles, eight of which occurred on clay. The last trophy he raised was at Monte Carlo in 2019, an ATP Masters 1000 event. He reached a career best No. 9 in the ATP rankings later that season, becoming the first Italian to earn a spot in the top 10 since 1979.

Fognini, who is married to 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta, posted a career singles record of 426-396. He competed in 63 Grand Slam tournaments, reaching the quarterfinal round only once, in the 2011 French Open. Unfortunately, he suffered an injured thigh and withdrew, allowing Novak Djokovic to reach the semifinals.

His biggest singles' wins occurred against Rafael Nadal at the 2015 US Open and over then No. 1 Andy Murray in Rome in 2017.

Fognini, did however, win a Grand Slam doubles title, partnering with countryman Simone Bolelli to capture the 2015 Australian Open title.

'I did this job for 20 years,' Fognini said, 'and I don't know how to do anything else.'

--Field Level Media