Andrea Pellegrino explains what it’s like to face Jannik Sinner

In an interview with the TennisTalker podcast, Andrea Pellegrino talked about what it’s like to face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The player from Puglia had an unforgettable 2026, which saw him reach his career-high ranking of No. 109 in the ATP rankings in June.

Pellegrino faced Sinner in the round of 16 at the Italian Open, after stunningly defeating Tiafoe in the round of 32. Against the South Tyrolean, however, he didn’t stand a chance: “When they introduced him in Rome, listing all the tournaments he’d won, there was a roar I’d never heard in my life. It was mind-blowing.”

“I was more nervous about making a fool of myself against him than I was about the 15,000 spectators. More than anything, it’s the ‘status’ he has—and that people attribute to him—that makes you sense that aura. You feel like you’re playing against a global superstar: people go wild when they see him!”

“You only realize how great he is when you’re up close. You don’t pick up on a lot of things on TV, but up close you understand the greatness of the person and the legend. He and Alcaraz are in a league of their own. You felt the same way years ago when Nadal and Federer were around—in fact, they were even more so. When Roger walked onto the court, there wasn’t a single person who didn’t turn to look at him; he had a mystical presence unlike anyone else’s.”