Fognini Says This Italian Open Will Be His Last 

Fabio Fognini. (AFP)
Fabio Fognini. (AFP)
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Fognini Says This Italian Open Will Be His Last 

Fabio Fognini. (AFP)
Fabio Fognini. (AFP)

Former world number nine Fabio Fognini said this year's Italian Open in Rome will be his last appearance at the ATP Masters 1000 event.

The 37-year-old Italian will face Briton Jacob Fearnley in the first round on Thursday, marking his 18th main draw appearance at the tournament, having reached the quarter-finals in 2018.

"I think it's a good time to say goodbye in this beautiful city, special city," Fognini, who first played at the Italian Open in 2006, told the Tennis Channel on Wednesday.

"Since I was a kid I was coming here to say, 'Oh let's see, let's hope to play one day'. And now I’m in the opposite (end of my career).

"But I'm here with a smile on my face because I know that I had a really difficult time during my, I don't know, 20 years in Rome and I would like to enjoy the last lap."

Fognini has won eight of his nine ATP singles titles on clay, including the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters. He said one of his fondest memories in Rome was beating then world number one Andy Murray in straight sets in 2017.



Amorim Says Nothing but Europa League Victory Will Do 

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim waves to fans after the UEFA Europa League semi-finals 2nd leg soccer match between Manchester United and Athletic Club, in Manchester, Britain, 08 May 2025. Manchester United won 4-1. (EPA)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim waves to fans after the UEFA Europa League semi-finals 2nd leg soccer match between Manchester United and Athletic Club, in Manchester, Britain, 08 May 2025. Manchester United won 4-1. (EPA)
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Amorim Says Nothing but Europa League Victory Will Do 

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim waves to fans after the UEFA Europa League semi-finals 2nd leg soccer match between Manchester United and Athletic Club, in Manchester, Britain, 08 May 2025. Manchester United won 4-1. (EPA)
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim waves to fans after the UEFA Europa League semi-finals 2nd leg soccer match between Manchester United and Athletic Club, in Manchester, Britain, 08 May 2025. Manchester United won 4-1. (EPA)

Anything less than winning the Europa League title on May 21 will not be enough for Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, who said finishing second will amount to nothing and the club's long-suffering fans deserve better.

United substitute Mason Mount struck twice as United trounced Athletic Bilbao 4-1 in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday for a 7-1 aggregate victory and a place in an all-English final against Tottenham Hotspur.

A victory in the final would mean not just a place in the Champions League next season -- and the sizable financial injection that comes with it -- but a much-needed belief after a dreadful Premier League season.

"The money is not the most important, even the title, to win a title as a coach," Amorim said. "It's that feeling that we can do good things, the feeling to give something to our fans, especially in this kind of season. So, it's not just playing Champions League next year. Is that feeling too that we can change things.

"I'm stressed already because of the final. If we don't do it, it means nothing."

While the final in the Spanish city of Bilbao will be Amorim's biggest task yet as United boss, he has won several Portuguese trophies.

Asked where a Europa League title would rank, the 40-year-old said: "Every coach will say that the next one is the most important. But it would be massive, especially after this season in Premier League.

"Both teams are going to play like all or nothing, the position of the coach(es) is quite similar, we are struggling both of us."

Mount became the first substitute to score a double in a European knockout match for United since David Beckham against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in April 2003.

When Mount caught the goalie well out of his net deep in injury time and launched a rocket from just inside Athletic's half to score his second, the television caught Amorim laughing with delight.

"Not just me," Amorim said. "If you look at the bench, that is the best feeling as a coach, when you look at the other guys on the bench and they are so happy for Mason Mount, because everybody in that dressing room sees Mason Mount doing everything he can to be available.

"His teammates were so happy for him."

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