After five sets of thrilling entertainment, Fognini lost to Alcaraz<\/a> 5-7, 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, 1-6, exiting Centre Court for the final time in his career.<\/p>\n Deciding that was the perfect way to go out, Fognini announced his retirement<\/a> at a press conference one week later.<\/p>\n Reacting to the 38-year-old\u2019s retirement, Wimbledon legend Boris Becker<\/a> shared what he hopes Fognini does now.<\/p>\n Boris Becker says he \u2018hopes\u2019 Fabio Fognini stays involved with tennis after retirement<\/p>\n During an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport<\/a>, former world number one Becker shared his thoughts on the impact Fognini had on Italian tennis.<\/p>\n \u201cFabio [Fognini]<\/a> was the first to break the curse of Italian tennis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter [Adriano] Panatta and [Paolo] Bertolucci, for years there hadn\u2019t been a truly top player. He changed things.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore [Matteo] Berrettini<\/a>, before anyone else. He gave faith to so many young players: \u2018If Fognini could do it, I can do it too.’\u201d<\/p>\n After Adriano Panatta won the 1976 French Open<\/a>, Italy were made to wait decades for another star to compete at the very top of the men\u2019s game.<\/p>\n Breaking into the world\u2019s top ten, Fognini became the first Italian to win a Masters 1000 title at the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Since then, several other Italian players have gone on to achieve great things in the sport, including Jannik Sinner<\/a>, a three-time Grand Slam champion and current world number one.<\/p>\n Reflecting on Fognini\u2019s final match, Becker revealed what he hopes the Italian does now as he retires from tennis.<\/p>\n \u201cHis farewell was beautiful, like a movie: [Carlos] Alcaraz as his opponent, the sun, his family in the stands. A well-deserved standing ovation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope he stays in tennis, teaching the younger players what it takes to win.\u201d<\/p>\n Fognini\u2019s experience could well be of use to his fellow Italian, who impressed Becker at SW19.<\/p>\n Boris Becker tells Flavio Cobolli what he must do now after impressive Wimbledon run<\/p>\n 23-year-old Italian Flavio Cobolli<\/a> qualified for his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon, defeating Beibit Zhukayev, Jack Pinnington Jones, Jakub Mensik, and Marin Cilic en route to the last eight.<\/p>\n There, he met seven-time champion Novak Djokovic<\/a>, and looked in good shape to cause an upset on Centre Court.<\/p>\n In a stunning turn of events, Cobolli took the first set of their quarterfinal in a tiebreaker 7-6 [8-6].<\/p>\n<\/p>\n He was, however, unable to maintain his level, as Djokovic came through to beat Cobolli<\/a> in four sets.<\/p>\n Reacting to the world number 24\u2019s breakout performance, Becker shared his honest opinions on Cobolli.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellent. He has personality, he\u2019s talented, and he has a positive aura around him. A family that supports him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n![\"Fabio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2222939501-1-1024x729.jpg\")
Photo by Visionhaus\/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Fabio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2222937485-1-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Julian Finney\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
![\"Flavio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2223681681-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by GLYN KIRK\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n