Michelin-Star Chef, Who’s a ‘Kind Stalker’ of Jannik Sinner, Advises World No.2 to Change His Gucci Bag

Jannik Sinner became the global brand ambassador for luxury fashion brand Gucci in 2022.

Michelin-Star Chef, Who’s a ‘Kind Stalker’ of Jannik Sinner, Advises World No.2 to Change His Gucci Bag

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Janniksin_Updates)

In Short
  • Jannik Sinner completed the Sunshine Double, becoming the eighth man in history to achieve this feat.
  • Michelin-star chef Bruno Barbieri praised Sinner as a role model and suggested he change his Gucci bag.
  • Sinner surpassed Novak Djokovic's record for most consecutive straight-set wins in Masters 1000 events with 30 victories.

Jannik Sinner has become a global sporting icon thanks to his performance on the ATP Tour as well as his personality off the court. The World No.2 recently etched his name in the record books after completing the Sunshine Double, becoming the eighth man to accomplish this.

After his victory over Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final, the Italian downed Jiri Lehecka in the Miami Open final. Watching him from the stands was Bruno Barbieri, a Michelin-star chef.

It’s not Sinner who drew Barbieri to tennis. But everything changed after the four-time Grand Slam champion burst onto the scene, and he, along with players such as Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli, and Matteo Berrettini, turned Italy into a tennis powerhouse.

He called Sinner an incredible role model who tells the young people that to achieve their goals, all they have to do is work hard with a good-natured determination, lauding him for his “brains, talent, and concentration of a great chef.” During his interview with Corriere dell’Alto Adige, Barbieri was asked whether he personally knows Sinner.

Personally, no… but we text each other on WhatsApp. I message him, he responds. And he doesn’t have to, mind you. I’m a real fan, a kind stalker. But because I like him as a person, he tells a good story.

Barbieri also wants to invite Sinner for dinner at his house and serve him gratinated tagliatelle with country ragu, which, he joked, is a “far cry from a post-match hamburger“. He also has some style advice for Sinner.

Let’s change that Gucci bag! He’s been carrying it around for four years… come on, let’s give it a makeover every now and then! Give this guy a new model.

Bruno Barbieri added

Sinner launched his custom Gucci duffel bag at the 2023 Wimbledon, the tournament he won last year with a four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz. He received special permission from the All England Club bosses to carry that high-end luxury luggage to the Center Court. The former World No.1 became the brand ambassador for the luxury fashion brand in 2022.

Alison Riske-Amritraj on Jannik Sinner’s Miami Open win

After lifting the Miami Open, Jannik Sinner surpassed Novak Djokovic‘s record of most consecutive straight-set wins in Masters 1000 events (24). Sinner earned his 30th straight-set victory at this level after beating Jiri Lehecka in the final. Following the match, former WTA ace Alison Riske-Amritraj said Sinner has been extra aggressive since he lost the thrilling 2025 French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/4K JANNIK SINNER)

He overtook Djokovic’s record, where he won 24 straight sets at 1000 events, and that is just an unbelievable feat. He is playing, I think, some of the most aggressive tennis we have seen. I actually take it back to when he lost Roland Garros last year. He had that quick turnaround and won Wimbledon. I know he has lost to Alcaraz since then in very close matches as well, but I really think he has been extra aggressive since that Roland Garros loss last year.

Alison Riske-Amritraj said on The Big T Podcast

Although Sinner is planning to play the Monte Carlo Masters, he has yet to confirm whether he indeed will be returning to the first clay-court Masters 1000 of the season after two successful runs last month. Sinner is a two-time semifinalist in The Principality and skipped the event last year due to his doping ban.

So far in his career, Sinner has won just one title on clay (2022 Croatia Open) and lost two finals last year: the Italian Open and the French Open, both to Alcaraz. Sinner will inch closer to dethroning the Spaniard from the No.1 position in the rankings if he wins the title in Monte Carlo.

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