Australian Open Champion Jannik Sinner, the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly half a century, received a hero’s welcome upon his return to Italy on Tuesday. The tennis prodigy, who clinched victory in a five-set thriller against Daniil Medvedev, was greeted with great fanfare and immediately headed for a private meeting with Premier Giorgia Meloni.*
In a symbolic rendezvous at the Chigi Palace, Premier Meloni expressed her admiration for Sinner, uttering, “Grandissimo,” as he entered her office. The Premier wasted no time, turning on a replay of the match point from Sinner’s historic win. The Italian tennis sensation, who had rallied from two sets down in the final, humbly remarked, “It’s nice to experience it after the fact.”
Following the replay, Sinner and Meloni proudly posed for photographs, holding aloft both the Australian Open trophy and the Italian flag. The meeting concluded with a warm embrace, embodying the celebration of not just an individual triumph but a collective victory for the nation.
“The Italy we like: capable of believing in itself and reacting to difficult challenges. And to win,” Meloni later shared on X, the social media platform. “Thank you, Jannik, for the example you gave us, to sports lovers, to our young people, and to all of Italy.”
L’Italia che ci piace: capace di credere in sé stessa e di reagire davanti alle sfide difficili. E di vincere.
Grazie per l’esempio che hai dato, Jannik, agli amanti dello sport, ai nostri giovani e all’Italia tutta 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/nXG95etRp5— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 30, 2024
Accompanying Sinner to the premier’s office was Sports Minister Andrea Abodi. He described the meeting as informal, noting that Meloni and Sinner conversed like old friends. Abodi highlighted Meloni’s knowledge of tennis and shared that the two even exchanged jokes about padel, hinting at a possible reunion during the Italian Open.
“Jannik was very courteous with everyone, as there were a lot of people applauding him inside the palace,” Abodi said. “The trip in the car with the trophy was thrilling. It’s the first time this trophy has arrived in Italy.”
RAI state TV captured Sinner’s arrival at the airport in Rome, showcasing the champion in a black hooded sweatshirt with his orange racket bag strapped onto his shoulders. A green bag with gold-colored straps, presumably containing his trophy, was also in his hands.
Sinner’s historic victory at the Australian Open adds to his remarkable achievements, as he led Italy to its first Davis Cup title since 1976 in November. The tennis sensation is set to hold a news conference alongside Italian Tennis and Padel Federation President Angelo Binaghi on Wednesday. Furthermore, he and his Davis Cup teammates are scheduled to be honored by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday.
In a country that has a rich history in tennis, Jannik Sinner has not only etched his name in the annals of the sport but has become a symbol of inspiration for a nation facing challenges. His triumphant return and the warm reception he received underscore the power of sports to unite and inspire, especially in the face of adversity.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
WWWWWWWWWW Now the world no.4 (career-high), Sinner played his last match on the 28th of January when he beat world no.3 Daniil Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the final of the Australian Open to win his 12th career title.
This year Jannik achieved an overall 7-0 record. This year, Jannik conquered 1 tournament at the Australian Open.
Sinner will compete next in Marseille (Open 13 Provence). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 5th of February.
