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Trading snowy slopes for tennis courts proves a successful move for Jannik Sinner
Tennis has a rising star, known for fans dressing as carrots, who could have pursued a career hurtling down Alpine slopes. Jannik Sinner recently gained attention by ending Novak Djokovic’s six-year unbeaten streak in Melbourne. In contrast to the stereotypical Italian image, Sinner stands out as a fair-skinned, red-haired individual, quite unlike his dark and charismatic compatriots like Adriano Panatta, Matteo Berrettini, or Fabio Fognini.
Sinner’s background adds to his uniqueness; hailing from South Tyrol, a German-speaking region in northeastern Italy, he has an appearance and upbringing that might align more with Austria. Initially a serious skiing prospect idolizing Bode Miller, an American downhill champion, Sinner demonstrated exceptional balance – a quality reminiscent of Djokovic, who also has a skiing background from his upbringing in the Serbian mountain resort of Kopaonik.
Until the age of 12, Sinner pursued skiing and even achieved significant success in junior giant slalom races. However, at 13, he made a pivotal decision to leave his hometown of Innichen and train with renowned coach Riccardo Piatti on the Italian Riviera. Despite the difficulty of the choice, it proved to be a wise one, as Sinner explained the fundamental difference between skiing and tennis: “Skiing is just one-and-a-half minutes down the hill. If you make one mistake, the whole thing is over. In tennis, you can make some mistakes but still win. This is why I chose tennis.”
At 22 years old, Jannik Sinner maintains a reserved demeanor in interviews, in contrast to some of his more flamboyant fellow Italians like Fognini. Following his impressive performance against Djokovic, one might have anticipated an exuberant response. However, when interviewed by Jim Courier, Sinner maintained a flat monotone reminiscent of a young Andy Murray, revealing an underlying sense of humor.
Despite the seriousness perceived in Sinner’s demeanor, his coaching team, including Italian coach Simone Vagnozzi, shed light on his more lighthearted side. Vagnozzi noted that the region of Italy Sinner hails from is typically serious, and while Sinner may appear reserved, he is someone who enjoys making jokes and always has a smile. Vagnozzi emphasized that although Sinner is serious on the court during practice, his sense of humor reflects the more Italian part of his personality.
Moving on to the upcoming final against Daniil Medvedev, Sinner is poised to potentially secure his first major title, a rare occurrence in recent tennis history. Medvedev, a seasoned player with five major finals under his belt, faces a formidable opponent in Sinner. Despite Sinner’s lack of experience at this level, bookmakers are favoring him slightly due to his powerful game, which he demonstrated in the previous season by overcoming a poor head-to-head record against Medvedev. The defining moment was Sinner’s remarkable 100mph forehand, leaving his coach Darren Cahill in awe.
In the past year, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi have brought more diversity to Sinner’s game and revamped his serve, although his formidable power from the ground required no adjustments. Cahill, who has previously coached three world No1s, including Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, and Simona Halep, remarked on the incredible sound produced when Sinner strikes the ball, likening it to other tennis greats such as Agassi, Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic.
Approaching his 37th birthday, Djokovic’s era is drawing to a close, paving the way for rising talents like Sinner and the 20-year-old Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz to make their mark on the tennis world. While Alcaraz brings a Latin sense of flair and magic to the court, Sinner is characterized by a precision and coldness in his machine-tooled game.
In their ongoing rivalry, including a thrilling match at the 2022 US Open, Sinner holds a narrow lead with four wins to Alcaraz’s three. However, Sinner trails in the grand slam-title count, with Alcaraz yet to secure a major title. A victory against Medvedev would narrow this gap for Sinner.
