Sinner and his passion for Italy: "When we live through difficult times, you know that you don't play alone, you play for an entire nation"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 23 Dec 2025 | 21.45

Sinner and his passion for Italy: "When we live in difficult times, you know that you are not playing alone, you play for a whole nation." Photo: Getty Images

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Jannik Sinner is enjoying a well-deserved vacation. The world number two is indulging in certain pleasures that the demands of the circuit prevent him from enjoying in a normal way. One of his main joys is being able to watch live his other favorite sport: Formula 1.

The Italian has set aside his racket for a few weeks after a 2025 season that was an emotional rollercoaster. He started it by defending his title at the Australian Open, followed by his suspension due to a positive test for clostebol from February to May. Then came the drama of the Roland Garros final and his redemption at Wimbledon.

After losing the number one ranking following a clear defeat in the US Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, he bounced back and showcased his best tennis in the European indoor swing, capturing the titles in Vienna, the Paris Masters 1000 (regaining the number one spot for a week), and finishing the year by lifting the trophy at the ATP Finals in Turin.

Adding to the intensity of his year, he faced criticism from part of the Italian public when he decided not to participate in the Davis Cup edition held in Bologna. Nevertheless, the world number two played down the issue and in an interview with Sky Sports, he talked about the pride of representing Italy. Alongside his patriotic feelings, he also touched upon the significance of rivalries in the world of sports, as well as the bond he shares with his family and team.

Jannik Sinner shows his Italian side

"I am proud to be Italian. When we face tough times, you know you're not playing just for yourself; you're playing for a whole nation, a people who support you. In Italy, there is enormous passion for sports, not just for tennis but also for Formula 1 and soccer. One should be proud of this and keep moving forward."

The importance of having a team and family behind him in his daily life

"It's crucial to always have the support of the entire team: honest people who tell you when you're doing well, but also when things are not going so well or when changes are needed. I'm still young, and it matters a lot to me to surround myself with individuals of strong human values, such as those I work with and my family."

The necessity for sports to have rivalries

"Rivalries are essential. Opponents you lose to or face more frequently become the most important reference points for improvement and continued work, to defeat them or to find ways to constantly do something different. The more rivalries there are, the more fun and appealing it is for spectators to follow the sport."

His passion for motor racing transcends borders

"Motor racing is a great passion for me: I love cars, I love speed. I am very good friends with Kimi Antonelli (Formula 1 driver); we enjoy discussing everything. Seeing him so calm and relaxed before such an important race is incredible and also a great source of inspiration for me. His quick thinking fascinates me: when they have cars close by, when they need to overtake, when they choose the best strategy, all at incredible speeds. It truly excites me."

In constant pursuit of improving his tennis

"The level is always higher, and improvement is essential. If you want to maintain the same ranking next year or improve it, you have to keep working and push yourself to the maximum," confesses a Jannik Sinner who is relaxing after an incredibly intense year, knowing that 2026 will be just as demanding, if not more so.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner y su pasión por Italia: "Cuando vivimos tiempos difíciles, sabes que no juegas solo, juegas para toda una nación"