Watch: Fabio Fognini takes shot at Filippo Volandri, copies Novak Djokovic phone act

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• Novak Djokovic

Fabio Fognini pulled a Novak Djokovic US Open celebration as the Italian "hung up the phone" on Italian Davis Cup team captain Filippo Volandri after winning his Genoa Challenger semifinal match. After beating Ben Shelton in the US Open semifinal, Djokovic imitated the American's celebration and hung the phone on the 20-year-old.

Fognini, who didn't receive a call for Italy's Davis Cup tie against Sweden, didn't hide that he was extremely unhappy with Volandri's decision. On Saturday, Fognini took another shot at Volandri.

Fognini did the Ben Shelton/Novak Djokovic ‘hang up the phone celebration’ after his win in Genova.

This was a message to the Italian Davis Cup captain, who didn’t call him to be part of the team this year.

Don’t piss off Fabio.

He’ll leave icicles hanging from your ears.… pic.twitter.com/sHThYTwQTo — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 10, 2023

Fognini 'hungs up the phone' on Volandri

After receiving strong criticism from Fognini, Volandri addressed why the 2019 Monte Carlo Masters champion didn't receive a nomination for the tie against Sweden. "In his latest appearances, Fognini has suffered retirements and physical problems.

His performance in the last three months did not meet the criteria that, in my opinion, must be met to obtain a call-up to Davis. While I was in New York, I received a phone call from a member of his medical staff who was already telling me that Fabio was in very poor condition.

At that point, speaking of motivations, he decided to put his recovery before anything else, including the national team, which is why he chose to play in Genoa, outdoors and on clay, in spite of a Davis who in Bologna it is played on hard and indoors.

Despite the fact that a federal staff was proposed to him, with technicians, athletic trainers and doctors at his disposal, precisely to try to recover him. So, I respected his wishes but he left me no choice, that's the truth.

I wish Fabio to return to the levels he belongs to and I continue to thank him for what he has done in the past in the Davis Cup. This is the last time I address this topic publicly; we are on the eve of an important appointment, much more than our personal destinies, so we must all focus on the goal," Volandri told Italian press agency ANSA.