Watch: Fabio Fognini picks Roger Federer when asked to rank the best players who’ve retired in the last 15 years

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Federer retired in 2022 after last playing at the Laver Cup by teaming up with his long-time rival Rafael Nadal . They lost to American pair Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-6, 11-9. 

In his illustrious career, the former World No.1 won six Australian Open, one French Open, eight Wimbledon Championships, five US Open titles, and a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games. He retired after an impressive 1251–275 win-loss record in singles. 

Fabio Fognini called Roger Federer the greatest of all time 

For Fabio Fognini, Roger Federer is the best player of all time. In his book called ‘My Life Between the Lines’, the Italian recalled the matches he played against the Swiss maestro. 

Of all my defeats, those to Roger are the ones I regret the least. I know I gave all I had every time and I lost against the best of all.  Fabio Fognini wrote 

Fognini observed there are two sides to the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion- an easygoing Federer who loves to joke and the Federer everyone saw on tennis courts. 

Roger Federer jokes all the time. 'How good-looking are you Fabio?' he mocks me. 'If I only I were as beautiful as you are.' I am always surprised by the difference between the everyday life Federer and on-court Federer. He is a kind man keen to have a laugh and a joke with everybody. Fabio Fognini added

Federer has faced Fognini four times on the ATP tour, winning all the matches. Their first encounter was at the 2007 ATP Masters 1000 Canada, while their last encounter was at the 2018 1000 Paris Masters.

The former World No.9 has so far lifted nine career titles, eight of which came on clay. The best achievement of his career was the 2019 Monte-Carlo Masters victory in which he defeated Dusan Lajovic.