Bolelli-Vavassori 'we part with a smile, gratitude and respect'

On the eve of their last major tournament together at ATP level - the Davis Cup awaits them in Bologna - for Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori there is no room for recriminations and conspiracy theories: for the most famous couple of the Italian doubles, the Finals in Turin will be a last dance danced with joy and with the desire to dream again. "We leave each other with a smile and then it's not a goodbye because we will always see each other in tournaments. We have had three very good years and we have shared unique emotions", say the two in the press conference.

To those who ask which of the two has decided to leave, only a dry reply is given that leaves no way to dig. Bolelli replies: "I don't see the point in talking so much about this. We're here, we're playing the Finals with all our might, we'll play the Davis Cup with all our might, I wouldn't spend so much time on who said it to the other guy."

"The thing you need to know - adds Vavassori - is that there were no reasons on a personal level between the two of us. However, we have ten years of difference and we are in two different moments of our career, but what there is between us is gratitude for having followed this path together and it is the beautiful thing that we want to convey to people, even to the young people who look at us. There are many scandals, instead we do not want to pass on this message, on the contrary we want to pass on the message that two careers can also be divided, but respect and gratitude for what there has been there will always be."

"We've had three wonderful years - reiterates Vavassori - and I think it will be nice to feel the warmth of the public once again, which perhaps will be there even more precisely for this reason. Simone took me on at a time when I was growing up and we had three years of truly high level". Bolelli also underlines that "it still remains a great friendship, a great respect. It is part of sport and we must try to look forward. 'Wave' - he concludes using Vavassori's nickname - made me extend my career, start from scratch and go on for at least another three years with tournaments, unique emotions and this year also the victory in Rome, comparable in my opinion to a Davis Cup and a Slam".

Their minds also turn to the camp, where on Monday they are expected to play their first match against the Spanish-Argentinian pair Granollers-Zeballos: "We feel good, we are training well - declares Bolelli -. The objective is certainly to do well and try to do better than last year". "Just being there is special for us - adds 'Wave' - because we are Italian and we feel the warmth of the public and we are very motivated. This year we know what to expect, there is more experience, more maturity, so in my opinion we could do well this time too".