Jannik Sinner, the 22-year-old Italian tennis sensation, recently shared a golden piece of advice given to him by Roger Federer when he was just 17. As Sinner prepares to compete in the Halle tournament for the first time as the world No. 1, he fondly recalls the words of wisdom from the Swiss maestro that have stayed with him throughout his career.
In 2019, a young and hopeful Sinner arrived in Halle with dreams of securing a main draw spot through the qualifying rounds. Although he was defeated by Joao Sousa in the first round of qualifying, he experienced a memorable encounter that year. Federer’s coach, Severin Luthi, approached Sinner and asked if he would warm up Federer for his match. Excitedly, Sinner accepted the opportunity.
“I remember Luthi stopping me on the stairs of the hotel and asking me if I could warm [Federer] up for his match. I said, ‘Of course, yes.’ It was a very good feeling, a special feeling,” Sinner told the ATP website.
Over the years, Sinner has expressed his disappointment at never having played Federer in an official match, a sentiment he reiterated in Halle. However, he cherishes the practice sessions he had with the 20-time Grand Slam champion and the invaluable advice he received.
“I didn’t have the chance to play against Roger in an official match, and this is something that I will always miss, but I do remember the practice sessions with him,” Sinner said. “I didn’t have many, so I do remember every single one, more or less. He gave me just kind of mental advice: Try to enjoy it and keep looking forward to working hard. That’s the only thing he told me, and it was very nice to share a court with him.”
Now, as Sinner competes in Halle as the top-ranked player, Federer’s advice continues to resonate with him. The journey from a 17-year-old hopeful to the world No. 1 is a testament to his dedication and the joy he finds in the process of constant improvement.
Sinner’s rise in the tennis world is marked by his perseverance and the inspiration he draws from legends like Federer. The advice to enjoy the process and consistently work hard has been a guiding principle for Sinner, contributing to his success and growth as a player.
As Sinner takes to the court in Halle, he does so with the wisdom of one of the greatest players of all time echoing in his mind, a reminder of the importance of passion and hard work in achieving greatness.
Jannik Sinner in 2024
Currently the world no.1, the Italian played his last match on the 7th of June when he was defeated by world no.2 Carlos Alcaraz 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 in the semifinal of the French Open (draw).
Presently, during this year Sinner owns an overall 33-3 win-loss record. Jannik has won 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami.
Jannik Sinner will come up against the world no.23 Tallon Griekspoor in the 1st round. Their record is 4-0 for Sinner.
Sinner conquered 3 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Miami.
The Italian won 14 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts and 7 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Jannik Sinner |
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