Jannik Sinner told Italian TV Tuesday
that he had "lost the fun" before and during his three-month
doping ban but would now have a different mentality as he
returns for the May 6-18 Italian Open in Rome.
Despite the ban for inadvertently using a banned steroid,
Clostebol, the 23-year-old South Tyrolean, one-time US Open
champ and two-time Australian Open champ will stay world number
one for over a year after four-time major winner Carlos
Alcaraz's recent disappointing results.
"I am very happy to return to the court in a match in Rome, it
is such a special tournament for me. I will definitely return
with a slightly different mentality". Sinner in an exclusive
interview with Rai 1 that will be broadcast this evening and of
which Rai has posted a short excerpt online.
"On the court I did not feel like a player should feel - says
the Italian, who is finishing serving the three-month suspension
for the Clostebol case.
"We train a lot to have fun when we play a good match. This fun,
day after day, for me has gone away because I have thought about
other things".
On his return "there's not much left now, see you in Rome - says
the world tennis number 1.
"We hope to be prepared enough but I'm very happy to make my
return to Rome, there's no better place. Very soon there will be
not only me but the whole Italian group with incredible players,
so we expect a lot of cheering".
Also Tuesday, the Intesa Sanpaolo bank, Italy's biggest, ran an
interview with Sinner in which he said he would one day like to
have kids, but not for now.
"The number 1 is not a trophy but it is the goal I would talk
about to a child, staying at the top for 52 weeks is a big
thing. Children? I like them a lot and of course I am thinking
about having children, but not now because I wouldn't be able to
be the father I would like. It's too early for me".
Jannik Sinner is preparing to return to the court after three
months of stoppage due to the clostebol case: in the meantime,
in the countdown towards his return scheduled for the Rome
International, the champion from Alto Adige talks about himself
in an exclusive interview published on the Gruppo Intesa
Sanpaolo website in the area dedicated to the Community.
"The key to staying at certain levels - he says - is that every
day is an opportunity to show that you have improved in training
too: if you are consistent, the results will come sooner or
later. Tennis will have to find a way to get young people
passionate, ours is a sport with a lot of history and many
rules, we won't be able to change them especially in the slams,
but I am convinced that it will be a small revolution".
Three words to identify with: talent, consistency and passion,
said Sinner.
"I add dedication and put it first, because sometimes you don't
even want to train and instead you do it and it makes the
difference. Talent goes last, consistency is very important and
is linked to dedication, passion is normal to have. Put all the
things together and with talent you become a very strong
player". To reach certain levels, sacrifices are a must.
"A lot of sacrifices, not going out in the evening, skiing a
little more, going to the beach: but I'm 23 years old, I've done
a lot of things to be in this position and I don't want to throw
everything away. I know that real life is off the pitch: the
important thing is to keep everything in balance. I grew up
quickly, I had to learn how to do the shopping, the washing
machines. At 14 I was with a Croatian family that I saw more
than my own".
Among the most important people Sinner indicates "Alex Vittur,
he is not only my best friend, he is the person I trust the
most" and says that he "cried a lot as a child, when I had to
stay away from home for tournaments. And it happens to me even
now, because when I win I am calm but when I lose I have my bad
moments. Now I am happy with my behavior on the court".
As for his sporting growth, the n.1 underlines that "now I am
more aware of my means: on the forehand we have made great steps
forward and the serve has also improved a lot. The backhand
remains my most natural".
"A promise? Let's hope to return to the court... - he concludes
laughing - In the meantime, I will work very hard and give my
best, then the results will come".
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