Long interview of the Italian tennis player with the Financial Times: “From my parents I learned the positive mentality and the great work ethic. At the moment I spend more in the gym than on the tennis court, in my mind I know that I can do certain things”
“I’m in a different position than I was a year agoin my mind I know that I can do certain things”. Jannik’s words Sinner, protagonist of a long interview with the Financial Times, an economic-financial newspaper that dedicated an in-depth analysis to the Italian tennis player, who has now become a global phenomenon. A long chat with many topics addressed: from family to physical growth, up to behavior on the pitch. “Being calm as a player is very important for me, you see things better and faster – admitted Sinner – When you are frustrated, It’s like you’re driving fast in your car but you can’t see what’s outside“.
“Positive mentality and work ethic thanks to my parents”
Dad Hanspetter, mum Siglinde and brother Mark: the pillars in Sinner’s life. As already underlined by Jannik in the past, the family environment had an impact on his mentality as a man and athlete: “When I was younger I participated in a couple of tournaments and I lost – recalls the blue – And after that I called my parents and I wanted to explain what happened. And they said, ‘Yes, but we have to talk later because we have to work now, okay?’ I understood that obviously results count, but what really matters is trying to work hard, wake up and go to work and do it with a smile. My parents always came home and smiled. That’s what they gave me: a really positive mindset with a really good work ethic.”
read also
Sinner unplayable in derbies: he is now 13-0
“I chose tennis for the healthy competition”
Among the anecdotes told by Sinner there is also the choice of tennis over skiing: “When I was 12 or 13 years old, I took part in a ski race, and it was the first downhill race. You go there and you have to jump 30 or 40 meters, and when you’re a child it’s scary, for me it was. So I said to myself: maybe I’m too scared to go skiing. I chose to play tennis because, for me, it is healthy competition. You have no contact with your opponent, but you can still hurt him.”
“For now I spend more time in the gym than on the pitch”
Finally, Jannik spoke about his growth on a physical level: “Right now I’m more in the gym than on the tennis court. Every body is different: I, for example, need to be strong and stable. And I think that’s one of the reasons why I took this extra step, because physically I grew up. When I was 20I didn’t have the body of a twenty-year-old yet and I had to accept it.”
