"Told me they'd be happy if I was happy" - Jannik Sinner details how parents' upbringing allowed him to be a tennis player
Jannik Sinner recently detailed how he lucked out by having parents who offered him freedom to make his own choices. The World No. 1 spoke highly of his mother and father and credited them for his success.
Sinner is gearing up to lift his maiden year-end World No. 1 trophy during the 2024 ATP Finals. The event, scheduled for Monday, November 11, holds immense significance considering he’ll be cheered on by his home crowd in Turin.
The Italian also recently opened up about how he dreamed of being at the top of the rankings when he was a kid, adding that maintaining his position to finish the season was a “different and special feeling.”
However, tennis wasn’t always on the radar of the 23-year-old. Growing up, Jannik Sinner pursued several sports, including skiing and football. He was among the top junior skiers in Italy. In fact, he only started pursuing tennis exclusively after turning 13, intensifying his preparation a year later by moving to former coach Riccardo Piatti’s academy in Bordighera.
During a recent conversation with Sky Sport Italia, Sinner indicated that his mother, Siglinde, and father, Hanspeter, created the best possible environment for him to flourish despite their humble lifestyle.
"I was lucky to have very reserved parents who always tried to give the best they could. I always had the freedom to choose, even in sports," he said (Translated from Italian).
Jannik Sinner emphasized that his parents weren’t rigid about him pursuing skiing despite his childhood success in the sport and chose his happiness over all else.
"I was much stronger at skiing and maybe other parents would have told me to continue skiing instead of playing tennis," he said. "Instead they made me try; told me that they would be happy if I was happy. If I am in this position today it is only thanks to my parents."
"I'm happy to be in Turin" - Jannik Sinner ahead of ATP Finals 2024 appearance in front of home crowd
Jannik Sinner is gearing up for his third ATP Finals appearance in Turin, this time as the top seed. He played his first match at the event in 2021, when he replaced compatriot Matteo Berrettini as the first alternate after the Italian’s injury-related withdrawal.
In 2023, Sinner put on an enthralling display in front of his home crowd, earning his first of four victories against Novak Djokovic in the round-robin stage. He, however, fell short against the Serb in the title clash.
Ahead of his 2024 debut, Jannik Sinner, who is grouped alongside Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur, said:
"I'm happy to be in Turin . It's been an important city for my growth in the world of tennis," he said during the aforementioned conversation. "I'm preparing in the best way for this tournament."
The World No. 1 kicks off his ATP Finals campaign against Alex de Minaur on Sunday, November 10. He is chasing a staggering eighth title of the season at the event.