Andrea Gaudenzi in no doubt about Jannik Sinner’s key role
Andrea Gaudenzi expounds on the role of Jannik Sinner
More and more a world player, thanks in part to the exploits of Jannik Sinner, world No. 1 as well as winner of the last ATP Finals, tennis Italy (which, by the way, won the Davis Cup two years in a row) is experiencing an extraordinary moment. On the key role of the South Tyrolean but not only è Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP, spoke bluntly.
The former Italian tennis player, now the top executive of the men's professional circuit, speaks of a bet won: "When we decided to transfer the ATP Finals to Italy after the extraordinary work that had been done in the London editions, to many it è seemed like a risk – he told 'L'Equipe' -. But we were lucky, because in the same period many top Italian players" have grown.
"In the first Turin edition, in 2021, there was Matteo Berrettini (who, due to injury, was succeeded by Jannik Sinner, ed.), today we have a champion who comes right from Italy, Jannik Sinner. The response of the people è was immediate and strong. And, then, when there'è a local hero, è even better".
Italian tennis can certainly distinguish the pre-Sinner period from the contemporary period. Before 2024, never had any tennis player won a men's Slam tournament or been at the top of the rankings or won the ATP Finals. In the season just ended, the South Tyrolean redefined the standard by winning the Australian Open and US Open, topping the rankings, winning the Finals and contributing to the Azzurri's second consecutive Davis success.