Former WTA pro reveals interesting anecdote about discovering Jannik Sinner when he was 17 but played like ‘veteran’
Jannik Sinner became a three-time Grand Slam champion after beating Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the Australian Open final.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via X)
The Australian Open is done and dusted and former WTA pro Andrea Petkovic has shared her thoughts about several top players who made headlines due to their performances in the tournament.
Petkovic, while lauding World No.1 Jannik Sinner for defending the title at Melbourne Park, shared an interesting anecdote about how she discovered the Italian when he was 17 years old. The German recalled the time when she was in Rome to participate in the 2019 Italian Open.
On court Pietrangeli, she saw Lorenzo Musetti (then a teenager) competing for a main draw. Musetti was locking horns with Sinner but the latter’s shots made Petkovic think he was a ‘veteran’.
The other guy was a scrawny little fella, pale and freckled, red hair poking out underneath his hat. I was quite far away and while his body seemed that of a boy from where I sat, his groundstrokes were so powerful and his demeanor so adult-like that I figured it must be some 28-year-old veteran who happened to have the appearance of a youngster.
Andrea Petkovic wrote on Substack
Petkovic then told her coach that Musetti wouldn’t be able to beat the ‘veteran’. A week later Petkovic heard that a 17-year-old was on the verge of beating Steve Johnson. Petkovic then tried to get a glimpse of the teenager and to her surprise, he was the player who she called a veteran.
The roots of his game were already there: the stoicism, the maturity, the groundstrokes. But he’s built a team around him, brick by brick, piece by piece, that helped him become a now 3-time Grand Slam tournament champion.
Andrea Petkovic added
Taking this trophy home for a second time feels absolutely unreal!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ To my team and all of you who’ve cheered me on from every corner of the world – thank you! Huge respect to @AlexZverev for an incredible match 🤝🏻🤝🏻🤝🏻🇦🇺 @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/uWwH0PRxxg
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) January 26, 2025
Jannik Sinner withdraws from Rotterdam Open
Jannik Sinner, after defending the Australian Open, chose not to bid for a second consecutive Rotterdam Open. He withdrew from the tournament as he wanted to rest and recover.
Last year, the 23-year-old beat Alex de Minaur to claim the title. His withdrawal from the tournament means Carlos Alcaraz will be competing as a top seed. The Spaniard will be making his debut in the event.
Apart from Sinner, Grigor Dimitrov, who suffered an injury at the Australian Open, pulled out of the tournament. Jakub Mensik replaced him, while Roberto Bautista will be playing in place of the three-time Grand Slam champion.
The Australian Open was Sinner’s first tournament of the season as he skipped other ATP events and chose to participate in two exhibition events.
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Gouri Das
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