Is Jannik Sinner an “anti-hero”? Larissa Iapichino Shuts Down the Critics

Italian long-distance runner Larissa Iapichino, in an interview with Rivista Undici, had some kind words to say about world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian player is often criticized for being cold and reserved, very calculating—to the point that some insiders have labeled him an “anti-personality.”

The Italian athlete strongly disagrees with this characterization; on the contrary: “To me, he’s an extremely likable person because he’s so spontaneous and down-to-earth. In my opinion, he’s someone who goes beyond the court—he’s so human, so close to me, perhaps, because I’m a bit more introverted, so very often, in some ways, I understand him,” explained Iapichino, who a few weeks ago broke the Italian long jump record with a jump of 7.12 meters, surpassing the 1998 record set by her mother, Fiona May.

This isn’t the first time a great Italian track and field champion has spoken admiringly of Sinner. Sara Simeoni, a high jump legend and Olympic champion, also told *La Gazzetta dello Sport* that she had been captivated by the South Tyrolean: “Too easy an answer: Jannik Sinner. I’ve never followed tennis, but with him, it’s impossible not to. I never miss a match—neither his nor those of the other Italian players.”

Sinner had come under fire for passing up the chance to win all the Masters 1000 tournaments of the year: Eurosport journalist Simone Eterno didn’t mince words. “For an athlete to become a legend, he also needs to be a character. If I were in Sinner’s shoes, given how the season had unfolded, I would have gone to Montreal to try to make history and win all the Masters 1000 tournaments. Instead, we have to acknowledge that Sinner is an ‘anti-character’; we have to realize that this is just who Sinner is.”

The decision to skip the Montreal Masters 1000 sparked some controversy, but many came to the Italian’s defense. Among them was Ben Shelton, who explained in Washington: “Jannik knows his own body better than anyone else. If he felt physically and mentally ready, he’d play. He doesn’t skip a tournament without a reason.” This view is shared by former tennis player Greg Rusedski, who noted that Sinner “never makes the same mistake twice,” and pointed out that the South Tyrolean’s main goal is to be at his best for the U.S. Open, which begins on August 31, to win his second Grand Slam title of the season.