All-Italian affair between Fognini and Caruso ends in a heated argument but both silent off the court

Fabio Fognini and Salvatore Caruso had to be separated by thecourtsupervisor after the fi r s t all-Itali a n Australian Open men’s singles match of the open era ended in uproar on Thursday.

They battled it out over nearly four hours on the John Cain Arena court and played a thrilling finalsettiebreak before16thseedFognini emerged a 4-6, 6-2,2-6, 6-3,7-6(12)winner.

The traditional handshake atthe net quickly degenerated into a heated argument when Fognini suggested Caruso was lucky on some points in the match, an observation the Sicilian objected to.


The expletive-filled exchange, punctuated by plenty of gesticulation, continued by the side of the court until the official stood between thetwo players.

“We are good friends,” a smiling Fognini later told reporters. “You know me... things that happen on court, stay on court. I have nothing tosay aboutthat question anymore.

“I am really happy becauseIthink I was not playing my besttennis to day,” he added when asked again aboutthe incident.

“So I had more chances than him in thefifth,butthat’sthesport. Iwas lucky, too ... these kind of things sometimeshappen on court.” When pressed a third time, Fognini’ssmiledarkened.

“You understand my words or not?” he said. “Can you please change question, please?Next question,thank you.”

Caruso was equally unforthcoming when asked to discuss the postmatch ruckus. “We just had some different opinions. Ithink this is something that shouldstay in thelocker room, andI will speakwithhim becausewe are friends,” hesaid.

Fognini, who came from 1-5 down towin thefinaltiebreak14-12,saving a match point along the way, was also involved in controversy during a match atMelbourneParklast year.