A direct attack on Jannik Sinner: “He pushes people away.” The internet is up in arms

After the knee injury that sidelined him for several months, Jannik Sinner has decided to bring forward his return to the court—originally scheduled for 2027—and participate in the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament, set to take place December 27–30 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The South Tyrolean’s decision did not sit well with journalist Stefano Cecchi, who didn’t mince words during his appearance on Radio Sportiva: “Life is made up of opportunities, and someone like Sinner can afford to choose to turn down that mountain of money coming from the Six Kings Slam. If you choose to return for that event, you won’t connect emotionally with people like me; in fact, you’ll push me even further away because it’s not just victory that sparks a feeling of affection—sometimes it’s the small gestures that make love grow.”

“It’s a bit like the situation with soccer club presidents who’ve done very well but don’t have the fans on their side—I’m thinking, for example, of Claudio Lotito or Aurelio De Laurentiis. They can’t fully capture a sense of affection because something keeps them at a distance from our hearts,” the journalist continued.

“Sinner, who is an extraordinary champion, often behaves in ways that, from the perspective of passion, leave a bit to be desired… He turned down the Olympics, he turned down the Davis Cup, and now he’s going back to Saudi Arabia? It gives the impression that his only goal is that one thing… Flags aren’t waved just for talent, but also for the love and affection of the people. How many butterflies in our stomachs did champions like Pantani or Panatta give us?”

After Stefano Cecchi’s comments, an uproar ensued, and countless Jannik Sinner fans sent messages to the Radio Sportiva editorial team to defend their favorite: “Nothing is ever good enough for us Italians,” declared one listener. On social media as well, many people took issue with Cecchi’s words.