Italian Fognini undergoes surgery on both ankles

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Australian Open - Fourth Round - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 26, 2020. Italy's Fabio Fognini in action during his match against Tennys Sandgren of the U.S. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

World number 11 Fabio Fognini underwent surgery on both ankles on Saturday to cure a long-standing problem.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the 33-year-old Italian said he had hoped the two-month break due to the coronavirus pandemic will have improved his situation.

"I've been having a problem with my left ankle for three and a half years now and it's an issue I've learnt to cope with," Fognini said. "Then my right ankle started playing up in the last two years as well.

FILE PHOTO: Tennis - ATP 500 - Dubai Tennis Championships - Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - February 25, 2020 Italy's Fabio Fognini in action during his match against Britain's Dan Evans REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

"After a medical examination and a long discussion with my team, I decided to have arthroscopic surgery on both ankles. I believe it's the right thing to do while the Tour is on an enforced break. I will have surgery today."

No professional tournaments have been played since the start of March because of the pandemic, and the ATP Tour has been suspended until at least the start of August.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Hugh Lawson)