Francesca Schiavone gets straight to the point about Jannik Sinner

Francesca Schiavone, a guest at Splash and Spa Tamaro, spoke to the *Corriere del Ticino* about Jannik Sinner and Italy’s golden age of tennis. “The generation that precedes a great champion inspires and paves the way for those who come after. I think we’re all part of the success of today’s champions.”

“That’s what happened to me with Flavia Pennetta. I broke into the top ten, Flavia came along and passed me, then I passed her. When you see someone close to you who’s made it, you think: ‘Then I can do it too,’” continued the former Milanese tennis player.

Now the role model for all Italian athletes is Jannik Sinner: “He’s a very serious person; he works incredibly hard. And he’s really likable, which maybe doesn’t come across on TV. He leaves nothing to chance; he studies every day. When people ask, ‘Why doesn’t he come to Sanremo?’, you have to look at where the Festival falls on his schedule. For him, certain things just aren’t possible.”

On tennis today: “There’s been an evolution, but also a regression: today there’s so much power that whoever manages to use their intelligence and bring something different to the table can make a difference. The pressure is constant—take any step, and either they’ll tear you apart or they’ll make you a god. It’s all taken to extremes.”