Less than two months after announcing his retirement from tennis, Fabio Fognini is ready to start a new chapter in his life. In a video posted on social media, the former World No. 9 revealed that he will be a contestant on the Italian version of Dancing With the Stars, which is scheduled to begin on September 27.
“Hi everybody, you still see me dressed as a tennis player because, as you know, tennis is my life. But this year I’ve decided to step onto the dance floor: I will take part in Dancing With the Stars. I promise to put in a lot of passion and joy, and I hope to learn a few steps. See you soon, guys,” he said (translation by me) in the video, filmed on a tennis court.
Dal campo alla pista, la sfida continua: Fabio Fognini entra in gioco a #BallandoConLeStelle 2025. 🎾💃 @milly_carlucci pic.twitter.com/q20rHjrARA
— BallandoConLeStelle (@Ballando_Rai) August 22, 2025
A Wimbledon Farewell
Fognini said goodbye to tennis and his fans at Wimbledon, after a memorable first-round match against two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian pushed him to a fifth set and battled for over four hours, producing one of the most entertaining matches of the entire tournament.
With his wife, Flavia Pennetta, the 2015 US Open champion, and their children in the stands – they had flown to the UK as soon as they learned their father would face Alcaraz – he enjoyed one last dance. He couldn’t have chosen a better stage.
A Difficult Decision
After reflecting for a few days, Fognini held a press conference later in the tournament where he shared with journalists his decision to say farewell to tennis.
“It was the perfect way to say goodbye to this sport. My dream was to finish next year at the Monte Carlo Masters, but I don’t want to go back to the Challengers,” he admitted candidly.
Maybe he didn’t achieve everything he could have, but his career is certainly one to remember. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 9 and won nine ATP titles. His most prestigious was the Monte Carlo Masters in 2019. Although he defeated Dusan Lajovic in the final, the match no one can forget is the semifinal against Rafa Nadal, when the Italian completely outplayed the King of Clay.
Not His First Dance
And now, Dancing With the Stars. To be fair, this won’t be Fognini’s first appearance on the show. Last year, he was a guest for one night, and his performance went viral, even shocking fellow tennis players.
Da campione di tennis a stella della danza, Fabio Fognini ha mostrato grinta, precisione e un carisma unico a #BallandoConLeStelle! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/2IieyNwwGk
— BallandoConLeStelle (@Ballando_Rai) December 14, 2024
Alexander Zverev, for example, wrote on Instagram: “This is the single greatest thing I’ve seen this year.” Fognini danced a boogie and showed impressive talent, earning the applause of both the audience and the judges.
Given his competitiveness, he certainly won’t take part just for fun: Fognini will be aiming to win the whole competition.
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Main Photo Credit: Taya Gray/The Desert Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK
