Jannik Sinner was quizzed by an excited fan in a bizarre interaction
Jannik Sinner’s true character was clear to see in the encounter(Image: Getty)
Jannik Sinner’s gracious nature was on display during an encounter with an enthusiastic tennis supporter. The world No. 2 returns to action on Thursday in the Qatar Open following his Australian Open semi-final loss to Novak Djokovic last month.
The four-time grand slam champion is set to face Tomas Machac in the round of 32 of the event but before his on-court return, Sinner experienced quite the unusual situation in a lift alongside coach Simone Vagnozzi. After taking a selfie with a supporter, the individual wished him good luck with Sinner telling him thank you.
The heartwarming moment quickly became awkward as the supporter then asked the tennis star: “With the absence of Novak Djokovic, do you think you can win the tournament” to which Vagnozzi could be heard telling Sinner in Italian: “What is this, an interview??” with the smiling 24-year-old replying: “I don’t know”.
Following the unexpected question, the supporter repeated his well wishes for Sinner who thanked him again. The reigning Wimbledon champion remained courteous throughout the bizarre encounter which certainly had potential to go south.
Ahead of his match in Doha, Sinner opened up about his defeat Down Under to 24-time grand slam champion Djokovic, admitting losing is part and parcel of being a sportsman. “The defeat against Djokovic has taught me many things,” he said.
READ MORE: Emma Raducanu match cancelled as tennis star pulls out hours before and replacement namedREAD MORE: Furious tennis chief wants Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek stripped of ranking points
“It was a great match, both for me and for him. I had my chances, and sometimes things don’t go as expected, but that’s sports. We are now making small adjustments on the court, and these take time to become natural, but I have received positive feedback. We must not forget that losing sometimes is normal too.”
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Asked how he processed the defeat and the missed chance to secure three consecutive Australian Open titles, Sinner responded: “I experienced it in a very normal way. I am 24 years old, and I just want to play good tennis anywhere in the world, that’s all.
“Sometimes, it’s okay to lose. What I have done in the last two years, along with Alcaraz, has attracted a lot of attention. It just happened as it did. Now, let’s try to get back into the rhythm, feel the tournament pressure again, and see what happens. It’s not just technical, it’s also tactical and mental.
MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
“There are many things I can improve, but we shouldn’t dwell on the problems just because of losing a Grand Slam semifinal against Novak Djokovic. It was a very good match, though not easy to accept.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£49
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.