Thanasi Kokkinakis’s opponent Fabio Fognini is accused of tanking at the Australian Open

Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini has been accused of “tanking” in his clash with Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open on Tuesday night, with fans appalled at their lack of effort.

Kokkinakis triumphed in the first two sets against Fabio Fognini 6-1 6-2, and led 4-2 in the third when play was suspended due to rain.

Italian tennis star Fabio Fognini (pictured) has been accused of ‘tanking’ in his clash with Thanasi Kokkinakis at the Australian Open, with many fans appalled at his lack of effort.

Kokkinakis (pictured) stormed through the first two sets 6-1, 6-2 and led 4-2 in the third when Fabio Fognini offered little resistance.

Play will resume on Wednesday, although many fans are not expecting much of a fight from the Italian, who has been questioned for lack of energy on the pitch.

“I don’t know how to explain that,” said Channel 9 commentator Adam Peacock after Fognini’s loose shot during the third set.

“Speaks for itself… A real lack of energy from Fabio at the moment.”

Roger Rashid said: ‘[Kokkinakis’] the opponent hasn’t tested it yet… nor put it under any pressure. Shots like that have come off the Italian’s racket time and time again.

Mark McGowan of The Age tweeted: ‘Fognini is skating too close to the tank line. And I’m being generous.

Fognini imagined playing an inexplicably bad shot against the Australian

Tennis fans on social media further criticized the lackluster performance of the former world number 9, who committed 23 unforced errors.

“It is not the first time that Fognini has faced accusations of sinking. He should have been erased from tennis years ago. This is a shameful announcement for men’s tennis,” wrote one Twitter user.

“Being in the match, it’s pretty clear Fognini isn’t giving his best. Tanking at its best. Big fine looming,” said another.

Fognini (pictured) is no stranger to controversy, having once spat at a chair umpire, used a homophobic slur at the Olympics, called a female judge a ‘whore’ and wished a ‘bomb would go off’ in Wimbledon.

‘Very generous. He will pocket his $100,000 and walk away,” said a third.

Fognini is no stranger to controversy, having once spat at a chair umpire, used a homophobic slur at the Olympics, called a female judge a ‘whore’ and wished a ‘bomb would go off’ at Wimbledon.

The highest ranking of the Italian veteran’s career has been nine, with his biggest title coming in 2019, when he won the Monte Carlo Masters. He also won the 2015 Australian Open doubles title with compatriot Simone Bolelli.

If he loses to Kokkinakis when play resumes, he will pocket $106,250 under the Australian Open salary scale.