Jannik Sinner: “I learned a lot about myself”

Wearing a suit and a smile, Jannik Sinner answered questions from Sky Sport in an interview on Saturday. The topic, of course, was the suspension the South Tyrolean had to endure. The 23-year-old gave a deep insight, recounting what he had been doing during those months and how he felt at various times.

05 April 2025

From: do

It seemed as if this short break wasn't the worst thing in the world for Jannik. He looked calm and relaxed and talked about the new experiences he'd had during this time: "I'm doing well, I'm rested. I've spent a lot of time with my family and friends, gone cycling and go-karting, and tried other new things."

During this time, Sinner was forbidden from training on ATP-registered tennis courts or with other players, but he wasn't just sitting around doing nothing: "I've been training primarily in the gym so that I'm in the best possible physical shape for my comeback. There's still some time until I can play again in Rome, but I'm feeling good and I can hardly wait. I've had a break from the stress and pressure, which usually never happens."

Jannik Sinner (far right) with Alessandro Pier Guidi, Antonio Giovinazzi, and Giulio Ciccone (from left). © Social Media

So Sinner made the best of the forced time off. However, that doesn't mean he was satisfied with the developments: "The decision was made very quickly. I didn't agree with the suspension and the compromise, but I chose the lesser of two evils. It could have been even worse, with even more injustice. But that's what happened."

Aside from his other work, the young rising star has also learned a lot about himself: "During this time, I learned that tennis isn't the most important thing. Family comes first, and friends I can rely on are also very important to me. I've learned a lot on a human level."

“Family comes first.” Jannik Sinner

Nevertheless, he didn't have it easy, experiencing a lot of criticism and even taking a few jabs from a colleague: "I was very fragile at the beginning. I'm not a person without feelings, but you always learn in life. The players who spoke badly about me? I know I'm innocent, but it was tough."

He took this break from sports not only as a player, but also as a tennis enthusiast: "I've watched very little tennis. A few matches, maybe, but other than that – absolutely zero. Why? Because it's something I have no control over. And besides, I'm away for three months, so it doesn't make sense for me to watch tennis right now. It's a pretty unusual phase in my career."

Carlos Alcaraz (right) couldn't really take advantage of Sinner's absence. © ANSA / STR

When asked if Sinner had expected his closest rivals in the race for the No. 1 spot to have such a hard time exploiting his absence, he replied diplomatically: "No, no match is ever set in stone, even if you're playing against the No. 100 in the world or the No. 150. There are many things that can influence you when you step onto the court. But one thing is certain: things can change quickly, and now it's back to clay. Carlos is the favorite there; and Zverev is also playing extremely well. Let's see how it goes."