Federica Brignone met Jannik Sinner: “He’s really nice.” And she adds a detail
Federica Brignone met with Jannik Sinner at JMedical, and in an interview with *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, the world-class skier shared some thoughts on the world’s No. 1 tennis player. “I had the chance to get to know him a little better,” said the skier from the Aosta Valley. “He’s really nice. But he certainly doesn’t need my advice: he’s very talented, he’s mature, and he has people around him who can advise him better than I can. He seemed very focused to me, and even though he’ll miss Shanghai, he’ll be back very soon. I wish him the very best of luck.”
The meeting between the two champions took place at J Medical in Turin, where both are continuing their respective rehabilitation programs. Brignone, who underwent surgery on August 25 to have a metal plate removed from her left leg, is continuing her rehabilitation at the Turin facility with the goal of returning to the slopes as soon as possible. “Either I’m fine, or I’m fine. I don’t want to limp and get hurt,” the champion from the Aosta Valley stated at the Trento Sports Festival, prioritizing her health over the schedule’s deadlines.
As for Sinner, the situation appears more complex than initially anticipated. The world No. 1 has announced she will withdraw from the Shanghai Masters 1000, the fifth consecutive tournament she has missed after Montreal, Cincinnati, the U.S. Open, and Beijing. The problem is always the same: extra-articular tendon inflammation in his right knee—a condition that isn’t serious but requires a long recovery, with risks of relapse and chronicity. According to Sky journalist Angelo Mangiante, the approach chosen by the South Tyrolean champion’s team “remains the same: one of caution. “We’re looking ahead to the next decade, not the next tournament.”
Andrea Bernetti, full professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Salento, provided medical clarity when interviewed by Adnkronos Salute: “The decision to extend the break confirms that the knee issue is complex and requires extreme caution. The medical staff’s decision demonstrates a clear-headed ability to prioritize the longevity of his competitive career over the urgency of the schedule.” The expert also emphasized that modern tennis, with its extremely high-intensity rallies and constant changes of direction, generates forces that can exceed the tissues’ natural ability to repair themselves.
However, the news circulating in recent days is not encouraging: the Corriere della Sera reported that a training session in Monte Carlo was cut short, with the two sparring partners sent home after just forty minutes. Videos of Sinner on the court have reportedly stopped circulating on social media, and according to rumors, “the alarm is red.” In recent days, the South Tyrolean champion is said to have also traveled to Lyon for a consultation with a renowned surgeon. It now remains to be seen whether Sinner will be able to take part in the lucrative Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, scheduled for mid-October, and above all in the ATP Finals in Turin—an event the South Tyrolean star will want to attend at all costs.
