Jannik Sinner’s first coach makes insightful revelations about the Italian in his early years as a tennis player
Jannik Sinner is the first Italian to win three Grand Slam titles following his heroic Australian Open triumph.
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Jannik Sinner consoled Alexander Zverev (via X)
Jannik Sinner has been playing the best tennis of his career. The World No. 1 recently capped off a brilliant run in Melbourne with his second Australian Open title and third Grand Slam title.
The most important thing about Sinner is how his journey has unfolded since the beginning of his career. His first coach, Andreas Schonegger, has shared insights into the early years of the World No. 1.
Every day with him was fun, because he would often come to the net and jump in the air and laugh. Then he started playing small tournaments with his cap and his hair. It’s not that he was funny, but he was already a very interesting character. Even at that age, he was able to get results. He didn’t even know how to count points. One day when he won, I told him to shake his opponent’s hand and he asked me why. When I explained to him that he had won, he was very happy.
Andreas Schonegger said in an interview to Sportal
Sinner’s biggest contribution is the way he has reshaped Italian tennis. Alongside his rise, Italian tennis has seen great success, winning back-to-back Davis Cups in 2023 and 2024. The Italian women’s team also won the Billie Jean King Cup to close out the 2024 season.
Initially, Italy only had Matteo Berrettini as the face of its tennis. However, the 28-year-old struggled to achieve major success despite reaching the Wimbledon final in 2021. Sinner, on the other hand, has taken Italian tennis to new heights.
Jannik Sinner criticized after Simona Halep’s retirement
Former World No. 1 Simona Halep recently shocked the tennis world by announcing her retirement. The two-time Grand Slam champion withdrew from Australian Open qualifying due to knee and shoulder pain. She returned to Romania to play at the Transylvania Open but lost 6-1, 6-1 to Lucia Bronzetti in her first match of 2025. After the match, the 33-year-old shared her decision with her home crowd.
Halep had already missed two years of tennis due to a doping suspension. She always insisted she never knowingly took a banned substance. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that while she should have been more careful, she was not significantly at fault. Despite clearing her name, her career never fully recovered.
She retires with 24 singles titles and over $40 million in prize money. Many fans believe she was treated unfairly compared to other top players. The handling of her case has sparked debate, especially when compared to Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping situations.
Swiatek accepted a one-month ban for testing positive for trimetazidine in 2024. Sinner tested positive twice for Clostebol but was allowed to keep playing. WADA has appealed the decision, and Sinner could still face a two-year suspension. However, he has continued competing and won major titles, while Halep lost two years of her career.
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Fahad Hamid
(698 Articles Published)