Jannik Sinner has been in top form and he would look to carry his purple patch at his home tournament, the Italian Open in Rome. The Italian is looking to complete the Career Golden Masters and join Novak Djokovic as the only men to achieve that feat.
During the press conference on Thursday, Sinner recalled the sacrifices he has been making to become the player he is today. Sinner left his home at the age of 13 and since then hasn’t been able to spend much time with his supporting family.
“The decision was not easy because I had to leave my family, but I know that they are next to me in any decision,” Sinner said. “It’s more like I’m going away from friends, because I was not so much in contact with them. I have a couple of very good friends. We still manage to have the best friendship because they know me since I’m very young and I was no one.
“I think this is the best friendship we have. But at the same time, I was struggling to get used to new conditions also for my body. I never went to the gym before. I never played more than a couple of times a week before. [From when I was] 13 and a half, everything has changed. But I believe it was good for me to grow as a person mostly, then a player.”
Sinner has become the first Italian man to climb to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and has won 28 tour-level trophies, including four major titles. The 24-year-old has been ticking almost all the right boxes in his young career and he is hungry for more.
“Of course, you dream to play on the biggest stages possible. But it was not easy,” Sinner continued, reflecting on his decision. “At the same time I was very, very fortunate where they put me, getting to know people. I was living with a Croatian family, which I’m still in contact with. It has been an amazing experience. I would do it again, not because of the result I have on court, but because it makes me grow as a person first.”
Sinner said the Italian Open is a very important tournament for his countrymen.
“It’s a very, very special tournament — for us Italians even more,” said Sinner, who claimed his fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Madrid last week. “I had a couple days off not doing anything [after Madrid]. I felt like it was very much needed. Today is the first day again. So [my] first time hitting here this afternoon. So let’s see how it goes.
“I have a couple of days to prepare. It’s not a lot, but at the same time I also know in the back of my mind that I played a lot. I’m very happy to be here. It has been a very special place for many, many years. Let’s see what’s coming this year.”
Sinner will take on Austria’s Sebastian Ofner in the opening round on Saturday.
