Federica Brignone speaks candidly about Jannik Sinner: the champion’s advice doesn’t go unnoticed
In the world of sports, where a frenetic pace and the constant pressure of competition are the norm, Federica Brignone’s comments about Jannik Sinner—made during an interview the ski champion gave to *Corriere della Sera*—did not go unnoticed. The “Tiger of Valle d’Aosta,” who has often crossed paths with the tennis star at J-Medical in Turin, gave him specific advice on how to approach his recovery from the injury that will, in fact, force him to sit out the upcoming season.
“It’s hard to get inside someone’s head,” said Federica Brignone, speaking about Jannik Sinner. “My advice is to take the time he needs: throughout my career, I’ve often underestimated certain signals from my body, and I’ve paid the price in the long run. Jannik is so strong that once he’s back at 100 percent, there’s no stopping him. His injury is one of the hardest to deal with: an athlete would never stop, and Sinner doesn’t have any injuries that prevent him from walking.”
The reactions to this profound reflection by the Italian skier were unanimous and positive. Fans, industry insiders, and supporters warmly welcomed Brignone’s message, seeing great empathy in her advice—especially since the Italian champion herself has experienced firsthand the pitfalls of injuries, including serious ones.
On the other hand, Federica Brignone’s last eighteen months have been a rollercoaster of emotions: first, the joy of bringing home the 2025 World Cup, then the drama of a serious injury that had put her participation in Milan-Cortina 2026 at risk. From there, she embarked on a challenging recovery journey, which saw her battle through the pain to win two extraordinary Olympic gold medals, before taking another break to listen to her body’s needs—while still holding onto her ambition to compete in the upcoming World Championships.
Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, is coming off a difficult few months due to a nagging iliotibial band syndrome in his right knee that surfaced after Wimbledon and worsened with the demands of the season. This insidious problem—a tendon-related condition caused by overuse—has led Italy’s top-ranked player to make the most mature and painful decision: to end the 2026 season early, forgo the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup to undergo a planned conservative treatment regimen, and return to the court only when he is in peak condition.
