Jannik Sinner is playing at the Nitto ATP Finals for the second time. Last year, he joined late as an alternate for Matteo Berrettini. The Italian fans were disappointed, but it has been going perfectly well this time. Sinner has won his first two matches and is on top of group green. The Italian showed flexibility while beating Novak Djokovic as fans finally found the reason behind it.
Sinner used to be a skier before learning to play tennis. A fan shared an old video of Sinner racing down the mountains in the Italian Alps. A young Sinner was seen effortlessly sliding down and navigating each turn like a true champion. “That explains the sliding backhand slice down the line!” wrote the fan on X while tagging Djokovic on the post.
That explains the sliding backhand slice down the line!
cc @DjokerNole https://t.co/D2HhsnNyzw
— Z id (@zzeed) November 15, 2023
The sliding backhand has usually been Djokovic’s trademark shot. But with the Italian crowd backing up Sinner, he pulled out the shot at crucial times. Sinner’s skiing experience has helped him in court coverage. The young Italian chose to play tennis due to the risk factor involved in skiing. He practices skiing during his time away from the court. It helps him stay fit during the off-season.
How was Jannik Sinner as a skier?
Before becoming a star in tennis, Sinner was a champion skier. He was brought up in Sexten, a winter sports resort in northern Italy. He was one of the brightest prospects among the juniors in the country. Sinner even finished runner-up in the giant slalom during his junior days. His childhood inspiration was alpine skier Bode Miller. He admired Miller for his persona.
The 22-year-old already had years of experience in sports before switching to tennis in his teenage years. Sinner’s attitude and playing style come from his time in the snow. He has always been brave on the court and takes risks much before his opponent. The world No. 4 is always focused on the court and enjoys playing the game even in challenging situations.
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) March 1, 2022
Sinner is still passionate about skiing and can ice the turns on the mountains. Last season, he spent time with Olympic and World Champion Lindsey Vonn. Sinner was glad to have the chance to ski with Vonn. The Italian will be now eager to keep impressing the home crowd at the Nitto ATP Finals. He will next play his final group stage match against Holger Rune on 17th November.