Riccardo Piatti Doesn’t Mince Words About Jannik Sinner

Wimbledon is just around the corner, and in England there’s a lot of curiosity surrounding Jannik Sinner—both because of his rise to prominence and his incredible mindset, which allows him to continually improve his game. The BBC has dedicated a special feature to the Italian player, titled “The Making of Jannik Sinner.”

The British documentary begins with his origins in the Dolomites and his childhood split between skiing and tennis; it features several interviews with his early coaches, particularly Riccardo Piatti, who explained the mindset of the champion from San Candido. “95% of his life is tennis. He thinks in terms of tennis,” Piatti explained. “He lives his life, but he’s always thinking about tennis—how he can improve, what paths to follow to keep getting better.”

The BBC also interviewed Andreas Schönegger, a friend of Jannik Sinner’s family: “He had long, red hair, like a little girl’s. At the first tournament he played, I remember the group asking me, ‘Andy, is a girl playing with us today?’ And I said, ‘This isn’t a girl—it’s a really, really strong young boy!’”

Andrea Volpini, Sinner’s former assistant coach, recalled some advice Novak Djokovic gave the then-very-young champion: “I remember once in Monte Carlo when Novak gave him some advice on his forehand: ‘Don’t hit it hard; instead, try to aim for a slightly shorter angle.’ Sinner’s forehand is now one of his most powerful weapons, backed by an excellent serve and mobility around the court similar to Djokovic’s.”