SUMMARY
- Jannik Sinner's Australian Open victory is tinged with sadness in his home town, Sesto Pusteria following the tragic loss of a beloved family.
- Sesto postpones celebrations to stand in solidarity while acknowledging Jannik Sinner as a source of town pride.
In the wake of Jannik Sinner’s triumphant win at the Australian Open 2024, the town of Sesto Pusteria, his birthplace, is marked by sadness. Situated near the Austrian border, Sesto is where Sinner spent his childhood, and his parents currently manage the family vacation home. However, the joy of Sinner’s victory is overshadowed by a tragic event in the town of Sesto Pusteria.
The Tschurtschenthaler family, residents of Sesto, experienced a devastating loss with the untimely death of Monika Stauder and her two sons, Matthäus and Kassian, in a tragic car accident in Austria. Christian Tschurtschenthaler, Monika’s husband and father of the children, expressed gratitude during the funeral, acknowledging the support from the Sesto community.
In respect for the grieving family, the town has postponed celebrations for Sinner’s victory. Despite the tragic circumstances, the mayor of Sesto commended Jannik Sinner’s sporting achievement, acknowledging him as a source of pride for the entire town, stating, “He is the pride of the entire town. On the one hand, we have this extraordinary success, but on the other, we are touched by a tragedy.”
Das ganze Pustertal trauert: Monika Stauder Tschurtschenthaler aus Sexten und zwei kleine Kinder verunglücken tödlich in Osttirol.https://t.co/fhpQzyY7iq
— Rai Südtirol (@RaiSuedtirol) January 23, 2024
Jannik Sinner’s sporting journey began in Sesto, where he juggled both skiing and tennis, supported by his family and the whole community. In solidarity with the bereaved Tschurtschenthaler family, Jannik Sinner and his family have chosen to defer the celebrations, recognizing the tragic incident that has deeply affected the entire community.
The small town of Sesto stands resilient, mourning the loss of fellow citizens while eagerly anticipating the day when they can join together in celebration of their local hero, Jannik Sinner. In postponing the celebration of Jannik Sinner’s Australian Open victory, the entire community stands united in these challenging times.
Italy’s first Grand Slam champion praises Jannik Sinner amid his remarkable record
Nicola Pietrangeli, Italy’s first Grand Slam men’s champion, showered praise on Jannik Sinner, the recently crowned Australian Open champion. Sinner, a rising star and considered one of the finest young players in the game, achieved his breakthrough by defeating Daniil Medvedev and securing victory at the Australian Open in his first major final.
The 22-year-old’s remarkable journey also included beating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals, making him the first Italian man to win at Melbourne Park. Pietrangeli, impressed by Sinner’s accomplishments, acknowledged the significance of his success, stating that witnessing a young talent like Sinner win a prestigious tournament like the Australian Open is beyond just a sporting achievement.
“It will take him two lifetimes”: Nicola Pietrangeli says one record in particular out of reach for Jannik Sinner after Australian Open win #AusOpen #AO2024 https://t.co/WU0Ba5QKeH
— TennisUpToDate (@TennisUpToDate2) January 31, 2024
He expressed optimism about Sinner’s future in tennis, emphasizing that the best is yet to come for the talented player. However, when reflecting on his record, Pietrangeli noted that Sinner might face a significant challenge in surpassing his Davis Cup record of playing 164 matches.
While Pietrangeli predicted continued success for Sinner, he emphasized that beating his Davis Cup record would be an extraordinary feat, suggesting it would take Sinner “two lifetimes” to achieve such a milestone. Sinner, with a remarkable 9-1 record in Davis Cup matches, played a pivotal role in leading Italy to their first Davis Cup title last year in nearly five decades and remained unbeaten in all three matches.