Sigi's tips: Jannik Sinner defies Corona

Sigi Heinrich has been a sports reporter and TV commentator for decades.

It has long been obvious that the corona virus will keep us under control for a long time. It changes our lives, our habits. It means saying goodbye to familiar scenarios. Also when it comes to sport, which has to become incredibly flexible and imaginative in order to reach the fans directly. If you wanted to see the 18-year-old South Tyrolean whiz kid in the tennis scene, Jannik Sinner, in Berlin in a game against world number three Dominic Thiem from Austria, you had to be fogged in at the entrance. You were only allowed to take off your mask after taking your seat, while maintaining enough distance. Three seats, to be precise, unless you could prove that you belong to the same household (which of course is difficult to verify at the ticket counter). There, of course, the biggest corona shock had to be digested first: the prices. They were proud and extremely sporty, almost an impudence actually. 120 to 150 euros were demanded. The Berlin Senate allowed 850 spectators. Only 450 came. These horrendous sums were later halved. Too late. It became clear once again that the tennis circus has still not adapted to the changes that the pandemic is forcing upon us. The money for attending possible sporting events is no longer easy. In many cases it no longer exists at all. People probably still believe that they are on a high horse and can conquer the world without being defeated. Not even close. No chance for normality The Berlin tournament, which looked like a small Wimbledon (a women's tournament was originally supposed to be held in preparation for the games in England) was only possible because tournament director Barbara Rittner had developed an exemplary hygiene concept that could potentially serve as an example for others . This is – understandably – a long way from the normality we used to experience. But everyone will have to live with that in the future, even though the gap between those who have understood that we live in Corona times and those who think it's all just nonsense is growing ever wider. At a Nascar race in Kentucky (USA), 20.000 spectators roared around again. Standing close together, of course, because Corona is just so much fun. The Bundesliga club Union Berlin wants to have all spectators tested for Corona before entering the stadium. This is probably logistically hardly possible. But all of this, including the unsuccessful tennis tournaments of the “Adria Cup”, arise from the longing for the old life. Of course, there are also the mistakes that were made and which also lead to completely crazy and incomprehensible excesses outside of sport, such as the “Ballermann binge” on Mallorca, such as crowded beaches, such as parties that challenge closeness instead of distance. Sport now also has a role model effect in this respect, which may not be easy to fulfill because there are limits to the constant pursuit of profit. The prize money for athletes will also, indeed must, decrease. Sinner in all media Jannik Sinner did well to accept the unusual conditions that the athletes also have to accept. Winner Thiem ennobled loser Sinner and certified that he was a strong opponent. And the most beautiful rally in this match Sinner won. We know that Roger Federer thinks highly of him and even demands him as a training partner again and again. Sinner is on his way to becoming a world-class player. Even though we may not have the opportunity to see it for ourselves anytime soon, it will still bring a lot of joy to its fans in South Tyrol and beyond in the future. The Dolomites and SportNews are guaranteed to always report in detail about Sinner's soon even greater deeds. And I'll stick with it too. I promise and at this point I’m outing myself as a Sinner fan. There is definitely a lot to do in the future.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Sigi's tips: Jannik Sinner defies Corona

Suggestions

Comments (0)