Get To Know Jannik Sinner | TALES OF THE TOUR | ATP

There's currently no player 18 or younger in the top 100 of the ATP rankings. But next-gen ATP Italian sensation Yannick Sinner is on the cusp of breaking through. Incredibly, just five years ago, his main focus wasn't even tennis. When I was a little boy I skied, because on our parts the first sport is of course skiing. I was second in Italy, but at the end I don't know why I decided to play tennis, because I enjoyed it more. Then when I was 12, 13, the coach of Andrea Seppi saw me, and he brought me to Ichialo Piatti. And I practiced there until now, and I'm very excited that I can practice there. In the beginning it was not easy, of course, leaving my home, and of course all the friends. I was lucky that I could live in a kind of family, where the father is a coach in Ichialo Piatti. He had all the family. He has his wife, one boy and one girl, one dog. So it was very, let's say, friendship. World-renowned coach Riccardo Piatti, who worked with Novak Djokovic and currently coaches world number 15 Borna Cioric, took Janik into the bosom of his family and quickly realized he was working with a special talent. Janik is a young kid coming. I worked with him for four years when he came in my center. I like him a lot because my project is a big project for me, and of course I put a lot of energy in him. And I think potentially he can become one of the best players in the world. Underlining this is how quickly Janik has charged up the rankings. As recently as February 2018, he had no ATP ranking. Today, the 18-year-old is knocking on the door of the top 100 as its youngest player. His first of two ATP Challenger Tour titles so far this year came on home soil. On the court I felt very good and I think I had the level already before. I just had to understand how I have to win against these guys. And now I'm very excited that I can win this very good title in Bergamo. 2019 also saw him earn his first ATP Masters 1000 win in Rome against the American Steve Johnson. But it was the loss that followed in the next round he appreciated the most. Winning against Johnson in the center court is a very good feeling. And then of course after playing against Tsitsipas for me was very special because I tried to understand the level he has and where I am staying. And that for me was maybe the most important part in Rome. He's an old head on young shoulders. But what is it that Piatti likes most about his young prodigy? He's a good server, good returner and when he has possibility he's immediately going to attack the opponent. He's a player that he likes to go to win the points. He's not expecting a mistake to the other. Yannick was handed a wild card to the next-gen ATP finals and is relishing the opportunity to play in Milan. If I qualify this year it will mean that I played a very good season. So let's hope that I can qualify this year. Yannick is part of a renaissance in men's Italian tennis with countrymen Fabio Forgnini and Matteo Berrettini leading the charge. For Italy now it's a big moment in tennis. Let's say there's a lot of movement even in 2021, the ATP finals in Turin. I'm very excited to be part of this and I'm even excited that I can learn from them. Let's see what will happen.