Jannik Sinner Reveals Reason Why His Parents Don’t Come Often to Tennis Tournaments

Jannik Sinner played his first match since his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the semifinal of the Australian Open. On Monday (February 16), Sinner breezed past Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the ATP 500 Qatar Open.

Back home, the 2026 Winter Olympics is underway in Milan and Alpine town Cortina d’Ampezzo, the latter of which is located in the Dolomites range. Sinner’s hometown, South Tyrol, also includes part of the Dolomites. Before becoming one of the best tennis players, Sinner used to be one of Italy’s best junior skiers and even won the national championship in slalom at the age of seven.

Sinner, still a huge fan of skiing, has been following the Winter Olympics a lot and even changed his training plans to watch it. His parents, father Johann Sinner and mother Siglinde Sinner, are also enjoying the Olympics.

But they don’t often accompany the 24-year-old to tournaments. Sinner, when asked during his interview with Tennis TV whether he calls his parents during tournaments or afterward, said he has fully accepted that it’s difficult for them to attend his matches.

I’m not anymore 13 that I call them everyday. We have a very relaxed relationship, me and my parents, me and my brother also. We have times where we hear each other every second day, but there also times where for one week we don’t call each other because it’s also normal, you know? I have my lifestyle, they have theirs.

Jannik Sinner told Tennis TV

Sinner’s mom has often gone viral for her reactions during her son’s tough matches. When it becomes too difficult for her to handle the pressure, the stressed-out mother sometimes ends up leaving the player’s box.

I would love that my parents would come a little bit more to meet to the tournaments, but I also notice the situation with grandma and grandpa. It is what it is, so I accept that. I believe they trust me enough to say, ‘He’s mature enough, he can handle everything,’ and yeah, that’s it.

Jannik Sinner added

In the Qatar Open second round, the four-time Grand Slam champion will lock horns with Alexei Popyrin. Sinner holds a 1-1 head-to-head record over the Aussie, winning their last meeting in the second round of last year’s US Open.

John McEnroe on the lessons he has learned from watching the Big 3, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jannik Sinner

John McEnroe spent 170 weeks as World No.1 and finished the season as No.1 four times. The first time he made the top of the rankings table was in 1980. But when his arch-rival Bjorn Borg hung up his racket the following season, McEnroe was overwhelmed, and it took him a while to figure out.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, during his interview with the ATP Tour, said he learned his lesson after watching how Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz keep pushing.

But that’s what I really respect about the three obvious…you know, Novak and Rafa and Roger, and subsequently Jannik and Carlos, is that they keep pushing. Might be a little late now, the lesson I’ve learned, maybe I should have pushed a little harder then, instead of sort of waiting to see what would happen.

Alcaraz is also competing at the Qatar Open and will lock horns with Arthur Rinderknech in the first round on Tuesday (February 17). Djokovic, who last year lost in the first round, withdrew from the Doha event. In the Australian Open this year, after defeating Sinner in the semifinals, Djokovic lost to Alcaraz in four sets.

Also read: Coco Gauff Insists She Trusts Her Coach Despite Recent Poor Results on Tour

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