Fabio Fognini Working on a Comeback Plan for Wife Flavia Pennetta

Italian tennis player Fabio Fognini says that he is working on a comeback plan for his wife - the former US Open champion Flavia Pennetta.

The 38 year old Pennetta, 38, retired from the tennis circuit shortly after winning the US Open in 2015, and the couple have two children, three-year-old Federico, and a daughter Farah, who is four months old.

Speaking to Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Fognini commented, "I'm trying to get Flavia back in 2021, like Kim Clijsters. I spoke to (Francesca) Schiavone and (Corrado) Barazzutti, they train her and I manage them, I already have the tournament programme ready."

Pennetta won 11 singles and 17 doubles titles on the WTA Tour during her career - peaking at No. 6 in the world rankings in singles and No. 1 in doubles - she also won the Australian Open doubles title in 2011.

 The couple are currently spending the lockdown period in their home at Arma di Taggia, south of Genoa.

Speaking about the return of the tennis circuit this year, Fognini says he finds it difficult to imagine a return to the tour anytime soon. "Right now I find it hard to imagine a return. How can a tournament director take responsibility for the health of players, staff, media, spectators? "I'm honest: I'm sorry because they are big tournaments and give so many points, but I don't know if I will return to Asia anymore. I would not have gone to the Tokyo Olympics this year. My biggest fear is not catching the virus, but spreading it. I am no longer alone. I am a dad and husband. Talking about the economy is fine, but I'm not going anywhere until I am 110 percent sure. Will I lose points and money? Patience." Even talk about a return to football in Italy would be "crazy". Thousands of people have died and they think about football. They joke with people's health, they only chase business. What's the point of reopening without spectators? What is the meaning of empty San Siro? It doesn't exist, come on."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2RWIlez