Fabio Fognini rued the lack of variety in tennis and said that he ‘won’t pay’ for a ticket to watch the younger players.
“Look, I’m going to be honest. Maybe it’s because I’m from an older generation, but I don’t like the future that is presented for this sport,” the temperamental Italian said in Buenos Aires on Thursday.
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Fognini reached the quarter-finals at a tour-level event for the first time since April, overcoming Pedro Martinez 6-4, 7-6(5) at the Argentina Open.
“It’s all the same, the only thing you see are guys hitting forehand and serve bombs, I don’t like it,” he continued.
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“When I retire from professional tennis I’m not going to see anything about this sport on television, nor am I going to pay for a ticket to see that, I don’t think it’s worth it.
“For whom I would pay a ticket is for Federer. I wish we could see him like in the old days.
“I love it, everything seems simple when he does it, but it’s not. I don’t know if we can see his best version again.”
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Federer underwent another knee surgery last year and hasn’t played since Wimbledon 2021.
The 34-year-old also lauded Juan Martin del Potro, who bid farewell to his home fans in Argentina earlier in the week.
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“He is a friend, a great colleague and it makes me very sad what has happened to him and seeing him the way he was the other day,” Fognini said.
“I know the real Juan Martín. (He’s) one of the few capable of fighting against the Big 4 when they were at their best.
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“I have not been able to speak with him these days, but I wish him the best with all my heart because I consider him a friend.”
