Inter Milan fan Fognini won 3-6 5-7 7-5 7-6 6-3 and celebrated in novel fashion by turning his racket into a pretend machine gun and then performing three roly-polies on Court 17.
Fognini, who stunned eighth seed Fernando Verdasco in the first round, had his joy soured when on the walk back to the locker room a passing Slovakian player told him of Italy’s 3-2 defeat at the World Cup.
Asked what his immediate reaction was to the world champions’ exit Fognini’s answer was unprintable but he was happier to talk about a victory over Russell that set up a third-round match against France’s Julien Benneteau.
“It was a big match for me and I was delighted after being two sets down,” Fognini, who also reached the third round of the French Open, told Reuters.
“The machine gun thing was because of one of my favourite football player’s used to do that and the forward rolls on the court was for my father."
“He asked me to do it two days ago when I won my first match and I didn’t but this time I did. It was just for fun.
“I like the grass it’s a bit different. I’m in third round now and I have Benneteau so I have a chance.”
Fognini is an avid football fan and has trained at Milan’s base, despite being a loyal fan of Inter.
He was dismayed by his country’s performance in South Africa where they finished bottom of their group behind New Zealand.
“We didn’t play well in the first two matches but then I thought today we would beat Slovakia today,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it when one of the Slovakian players said that they had beaten us 3-2. It’s terrible but at least I’m still in Wimbledon.”
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