GUIA DE ISORA, February 18, 2026

During his recent visit to Tenerife, Fabio Fognini offered thoughtful and candid reflections on his career, life after professional tennis and the sport’s evolving landscape. The Italian, a former world No. 9, spent the weekend on the island as a guest of the Tenerife Challenger at the Abama Resort in Guia de Isora, where he also played an exhibition match against a selection of young Canarian players and enjoyed time exploring the island with his wife, Flavia Pennetta.

Back in Tenerife ️

Sailing with Fabio Fognini in tennis paradise #tennis #TenerifeChallenger #ATPChallenger #Tenerife #TenerifeDespiertaEmociones pic.twitter.com/7SJnH2ESj1

— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) February 14, 2026

“Lately I’ve been more of a spectator, but I’m happy with this new chapter of my life,” Fognini said. “Tennis is still in my blood. Sometimes I miss it, sometimes I don’t.”

The 38-year-old returned to a venue he already knew well. “I played the tournament here at the Abama Resort two years ago—although it’s better not to remember how it went,” he joked. “The facilities are beautiful and the island is fantastic. It has everything an athlete needs.”

Beyond tennis, Fognini recently stepped into a completely different spotlight by participating in the Italian edition of Dancing with the Stars. “It was a very tough experience, but at the same time a lot of fun. I showed people a side of me they probably didn’t know, a part that had remained hidden,” he explained with a smile. “The age range of my fans has changed a bit—now I need to win back some of the younger crowd.”

Looking back on his tennis journey, Fognini expressed pride rather than regret. “For me, I couldn’t have done more. I was in the Top 10 and played against incredibly strong players. At that time, reaching a Grand Slam final was almost impossible. Besides the Big Three and the Big Four, there were so many other top players. Times have changed, and maybe today there are more opportunities to achieve a big result at a Slam—but comparisons are pointless.”

He also shared his perspective on the current generation of Italian stars. On Lorenzo Musetti, who recently began working with coach Jose Perlas, Fognini was optimistic. “I’m happy with Musetti’s progress. Choosing Perlas was a great move—I know him well. Together with Tartarini, he will help Lorenzo reach his best level. He’s already improving, but he still needs that final ‘click’ to establish himself in the Top 5, maybe even higher. I hope he gets there soon.”

Regarding Jannik Sinner’s loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, Fognini urged calm. “Jannik lost to the strongest player in history—there’s no need to make it a drama. I know him and his team, and I’m sure they’ll come back very strong, starting from Doha.”

Finally, he touched on the growing rivalry between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. “I’ve lost to both of them. You could see from a young age that they were destined for greatness. They are completely different players, but they’re already starting to write the history of our sport. I’m curious to see who will join them at the top and who will try to challenge them.”