“My favourite? Juan Lebron. I met him in Madrid and we agreed to play together here in Milan. I don’t know when yet, but you can count on it, we’ll play”. Fabio Fognini, a big fan of five-a-side football, explains how much he enjoys watching padel, both live and on TV. “Yes, I don’t get many chances to play, and today I didn’t have time to come and watch the two stars (Tapia and Coello, ed.), but Juan is playing shortly and it’ll be a pleasure to cheer him on”. At Casa Padel, the tournament’s hospitality lounge, Juan Lebron is just on the other side of a partition, relaxing before taking to the court and following the action on Centre Court on the big screen.
When asked if he’d like to say hello to Lebron, Fabio’s answer is an emphatic “yes”. The two exchange a warm embrace and share a chat full of smiles and enthusiasm. An immediate rapport develops between them, and the pair agree to meet again as soon as possible “to finally play a match together”. The chance to see Fognini and Lebron play as a pair could come at Padel8, also in Milan, or elsewhere. After a quick stop at the stand of one of Juan’s sponsors, Fognini heads to Centre Court to watch the matches, with Lebron and Augsburger set to face Edu Alonso and Aimar Goñi. With Fognini among the guests, the presence of several former football stars briefly gives the VIP stands at the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1 the feel of San Siro or the Stadio Olimpico, rather than Centre Court at the Foro Italico. Serginho, Dario Marcolin, German Denis, Cristian Brocchi, Nic Amoruso and Fabio Fognini: a dream team of padel fans – and accomplished players with a padel racket – led by one of Italy’s great tennis champions. What else?