“I grew up in Italy, I feel Italian and I am proud of it.” Jannik Sinner, already in 2021, had responded in his own way to those who – with malice – tried to tell a version different from the facts. Even today, especially on social media, there are people who enjoy writing comments with the same inaccurate phrase: “Sinner is not Italian”.
The South Tyrolean was good at managing the issue without ever raising the tone and demonstrated with deeds the love he feels towards his country. He became the Davis Cup hero in the ride that allowed Italy to conquer the Salad Bowl after 47 years by giving everything they had.
In an interview with the newspaper L’Équipe, Sinner told his story in more detail.
Jannik Sinner: “Italy? It wasn’t easy at the beginning. I was a bit different from the others”
“It’s true that it wasn’t easy at the beginning.
I was a little different from the others, both on and off the pitch, quite closed off. Where I’m from, people go to bed early. While most Italians stay up late. When I left for southern Italy to train, I learned the ‘Italian style,'” Sinner explained.
“But I never tried to change to please anyone, I did what I was most comfortable with. I’m constantly trying to learn what works best for me, for my body and for the people around me. I am who I am.
If people like the way I am, fine. Otherwise, it’s fine. Obviously it’s different if in my environment they tell me that this or that isn’t good. Now I will try to understand and adapt. But I won’t change for strangers who criticize me.”
