Next-Gens ‘Very Lucky’ to Play Without Federer, Nadal and Djokovic One Day, Says Fabio Fognini

Since the early 2000s, The Big 3 of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have dominated tennis, with several players falling short of them. There’s no doubt if Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic hadn’t taken up the sport, many other players would have had much more illustrious careers, especially with Grand Slam titles. Italian number one Fabio Fognini weighed in on whether he was lucky or unlucky to play in the era of the Big 3.

In a recent interview, Fognini admitted he has both feelings. He confessed that the upcoming generation will be lucky as they won’t face Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.

“Both. Young boys will be very lucky to one day play without these three, that I have had all the way.”

Fognini revealed that his expectations are low at a Grand Slam and he is happy to just play in the second week of Majors because after that the other top players would most probably win.

“When I reached the second week of a Grand Slam I was already happy, as if it were a semifinal or a final, because from then on it was your turn to one of them, or Murray, Del Potro, Wawrinka.” 

(Quotes have been translated via Google)

Fabio Fognini on playing in the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic

Fognini also admitted it is incredible that he got the chance to compete against the best in history. He considers himself fortunate to be part of their era and history.

“The good thing has been to compete against them and live with the best in history. The bad, that to do something good, incredible things had to happen.”

Fognini endures a terrible record against The Big 3. Although he has won four matches against Nadal, he is yet to win a match against Federer and Djokovic.

Fognini will now try to defend his Monte Carlo title. In the 2019 Monte Carlo semifinals, he had famously beaten Nadal en route to his title.

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