Nicola Pietrangeli-Jannik Sinner: from criticism to applause

Nicola Pietrangeli over the years has not spared any jabs at new Italian star Jannik Sinner, but always acknowledged his boundless talent. In 2023, on the occasion of the first Davis Cup won after a long fast, Pietrangeli had taken center stage on the podium during the award ceremony and had rattled Sinner’s cold expression behind him. “Sinner good guy, but to get over even me won”t take him two lifetimes” he had sentenced only a few months earlier. Over the years, and with each victory of the San Candido talent, Pietrangeli had often used irony to comment on the South Tyrolean&#8217s continued growth.

“He is the best Italian tennis player of all time. And maybe Austrian”, “He will surpass all my records, but the only one he can”t take away from me is that of Davis Cup appearances and victories”, the caustic comments about the Azzurro are not counted. Pietrangeli has always denied being envious: “I hope people now stop thinking I’m mad at him. Someone said I was gnawing, but go figure”. Lately he had returned to chastise him after giving up the Davis Cup, stirring up old controversy: “It&#8220s a big slap in the face to the Italian sports world. I don’t understand when he talks about difficult choice, he has to play tennis, not make a war”.

Pietrangeli has always defended Sinner over the Clostebol case, taking a clear position after the Azzurro’s three-month suspension: “He did well, he&#8217s good anyway, he&#8217s the world&#8217s No. 1, and an all in all short stop won&#8217t hurt him. If he and his lawyers, people who understand, have made this choice that is the right one, so I wish him the best of luck”. After the last triumph in Australia he had expressed all his esteem: “I was also scary on the court, but not to everyone like him. He has no weaknesses, even his serve now is better than the others. And then before the Italians were all strong on clay, while now…”.