Italian star Fabio Fognini has revealed that he cried in the locker room after his five-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz on Wimbledon's Centre Court. A former world No. 9, Fognini has not won a tour-level match since October and is set to retire at the end of this season.

Now ranked down at No. 138, he came painfully close to pulling off a massive upset over two-time defending champion Alcaraz in round one, but the second seed came through 7-5 6-7(5) 7-5 2-6 6-1, then urged the Centre Court crowd to applaud his retiring opponent.

And Fognini was touched by the gesture, becoming tearful after leaving the court. He said: "Oh, [it] was really emotional.

"I have to be honest, I cry in the locker room. I cry. Because, as I say, I didn't expect play five set against him. I have to be honest.

"The way I was coming here, I had no expectation because since I started the year this year, after the injury, I was playing really bad. I didn't win so many matches.

"So I say, okay. I was seven out [of making it into the main draw] at the beginning here in Wimbledon. I get in few last. I say before, there is no better way to play in this court with a great champion that I have a lot of respect with him and for his team, because I know them very, very well."

Although Fognini failed to get the job done against the five-time Major winner, he will leave the All England Club with special memories from his last match here.

He added: "Tough to say something. Believe me. But, yeah, I think this probably best way to say [goodbye] to Wimbledon, yeah, and maybe for the tennis.

"That's what I'm thinking now. I am happy for sure. I have a lot of emotions coming to my mind. Yes, was super amazing atmosphere over there. I enjoy a lot."

However, the former Monte-Carlo Masters champion still wasn't happy with the way the final set went, after Alcaraz raced into a 5-0 lead and then breadsticked him.

"I was looking good, I think, no? Was great. I mean, if we make an analysis of the match, I think I lost the first set, and I didn't deserve to lose the first set. Then I was break down, and I won the second. He won the third. But I was up again 2-1 with break," he explained.

"This is probably, if we can say, the worst game when I was up with my serve. Then I won very good the fourth one.

"Yes, the beginning of the fifth set was completely s***. I didn't deserve I think being 4-0 in the fifth set like that because I was 40-15 in the second game. I lost that game. I was 15-40, and I lost the game. I was 40-15 again and I lost the game. I didn't deserve to be 4-Love down. At least 2-2.

"But I play with Carlos, I don't play with my friend or with Federico."

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