L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 4 F r e s h o f f h i s return to Rome, he was celebrated a s t h e A m b a s - sador of Italian Sport Diplomacy worldwide, honored by the President of t h e R e p u b l i c , a n d e v e n received praise from Pope Francis. He ended Italy's 47-year Slam victory drought, com- ing on the heels of another historic achievement that had eluded Italian sports for 48 years: his contribution to the national team's Davis C u p w i n , a f e a t a c k n o w l - edged with all the honors d u e t o t h o s e w h o e l e v a t e t h e i r c o u n t r y t h r o u g h sportsmanship at the Quiri- nale Palace. Jannik Sinner, the 22- y e a r - o l d S o u t h T y r o l e a n with a dedicated interna- tional following of Carrot Boys — a nod to his distinc- tive red curls — doesn't see tennis as just a game but his " j o b . " N e x t o n h i s b u s y schedule is the ATP 500 in R o t t e r d a m , w h e r e h e kicked off his rapid ascent last year and now eyes the world's number 3 spot. Yet, his ultimate focus is on the Paris Olympics, aiming to win Italy's first medal since the 1924 Games' bronze. I n r e c e n t m o n t h s , t h e s p o r t s w o r l d h a s e a g e r l y watched Sinner's rise from San Candido, a quaint vil- l a g e c r a d l e d b y t h e Dolomites and the mesmer- izing Tre Cime di Lavaredo. P r e s i d e n t M a t t a r e l l a , acknowledging the broader s i g n i f i c a n c e o f s p o r t s , emphasized that beyond vic- tories, it's the passion that truly matters: "Many will e x p e c t y o u t o a l w a y s t r i - umph. It's crucial, howev- er," he was told, "that no p r e s s u r e i s p u t o n y o u because what truly matters is the effort you put into your endeavors." H E D I D I T ! - S i n n e r ' s landmark victory in Mel- bourne marked a historic moment, as he became the third Italian, following the footsteps of Pietrangeli and Panatta, to clinch a Grand Slam singles title since 1976. His win at the Australian O p e n a g a i n s t D a n i l M e d v e d e v , a l o n g s i d e h i s runner-up position at the recent ATP Finals and his k e y r o l e i n w i n n i n g t h e Davis Cup in Malaga, have firmly placed him among t h e t e n n i s w o r l d ' s e l i t e . Despite these monumental a c h i e v e m e n t s , S i n n e r remains the antithesis of the stereotypical national hero. Initially perceived as distant due to his South Tyrolean accent and reserved man- ner, Sinner faced criticism f o r h i s s u p p o s e d l a c k o f warmth and empathy. Additionally, his decision to forgo the Davis Cup in B o l o g n a l a s t a u t u m n sparked debate over his alle- giance to the national team. However, Sinner's wide- spread appeal today tran- scends his on-court victo- ries. In an age where style o f t e n o v e r s h a d o w s s u b - stance, his straightforward- n e s s , m o d e r a t i o n , a n d integrity stand out. He rep- resents excellence through his being and doing, show- casing the victory of exper- t i s e a n d h a r d w o r k o v e r mere appearance. H i s r e s t r a i n e d a c t i o n s and thoughtful remarks fol- lowing his victory in Aus- tralia truly showcased his character. After spending a b r i e f m o m e n t o n t h e ground, he swiftly went to h u g h i s t e a m . H i s a c c e p - tance speech was marked by clear and profound insights: "I told myself: you've played a great game, overcoming numerous challenges," and further, "My victories are t h e r e s u l t o f n o t h i n g b u t hard work, endurance, and s a c r i f i c e . " H e e x p r e s s e d deep appreciation, saying, "I wish everyone had parents like mine, who allowed me to choose freely without any pressure. I hope every child gets the freedom my parents afforded me." Faced with media frenzy and fan fervor, he didn't waver but rein- forced his composed and gentle demeanor that has endeared him to many: "I'm n o t f o n d o f s o c i a l m e d i a Jannik Sinner elevates Italy to new heights in the sporting world STEFANO CARNEVALI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS CONTINUED TO PAGE 6 Jannik Sinner with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Palazzo Chigi (Photo: Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri) and, bottom left, in action at the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin last November (Photo: Marco Canoniero/Dreamstime)

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