Adriano Panatta still unleashed on Jannik Sinner

Adriano Panatta, unleashed on Dancing with the Stars with his former colleague and friend Paolo Bertolucci, had a thought about Italian outfielder Jannik Sinner, who ended the year by winning the ATP Finals in Turin. “Sinner is a phenomenon, I don&#8217t think Jannik is human, he comes from another planet, another constellation, it&#8217s not normal what he does” said the former tennis player. Panatta with Bertolucci also fondly remembered Nicola Pietrangeli, who passed away a few days ago: “We really loved him very much. Although it’s a good thing he didn’t see us tonight…”, he said wryly referring to his performance on the dance floor.

Martino Davidi

Panatta in a recent interview had revealed what Pietrangeli really thought of Jannik Sinner, who was esteemed despite all the prodding during the many interviews: “I used to say to him: ‘But how do you feel about comparing yourself with Sinner, he’s outdone you, so what? Aren’t you happy? Give yourself a break…’.’They didn&#8217t understand me’ he complained, ‘that guy is so strong, a wonder, I just wanted to say that the road remains long, because that&#8217s the way it is in sports, and I don&#8217t want Sinner to ever forget that’. Eh, all right, but if you said it like that, wasn&#8217t that better? Nothing, ‘with Nicola you have to be patient’” explained Panatta.

The ’former tennis player in an interview with Radio Deejay revealed that he had met the Blue only on a couple of occasions: “Maybe Bertolucci knows him a little bit’ more, I will have seen him twice in my life, just… What did we say to each other? Hello hello, how are you, good good. That&#8217s all we said to each other, me and Sinner”. The South Tyrolean tennis player won for the third consecutive year the ATP ‘Fans’ Favourite’ award, reserved for the’favorite athlete of all the fans in the world. Not even the Clostebol affair and fierce criticism on social media from various haters have dented the dominance of the Friulian champion, who had also won the award in 2024 and 2023.

The Italian star thus confirmed himself as the most beloved by the public, winning an award won 19 times in the past by Roger Federer, and once by Rafael Nadal. “Thank you so much for voting for me” said Sinner in a special message to all the fans. “Winning once again the Fans’ Favourite award means everything to me, especially thanks to you”.

“It has been a very busy year, but you give me so much energy and love, especially when I take the field and play in front of you. It is the best feeling for us tennis players, so thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will prepare as best I can to be ready for next year, see you all very, very soon” concluded the blue champion.