(foto: Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner’s rise in tennis has captured Italy’s heart, overshadowing the nation’s beloved footballers and redefining Italy's sports landscape.
While it's not uncommon for athletes in individual sports to become national icons, like Novak Djokovic in Serbia, it's different when it comes to Italy and its historically beloved football team, the Azzurri. Despite their achievements and being the nation's pride, Sinner's ascent in tennis has dramatically shifted the spotlight.
This was most evident after Italy’s football victory against France in the Nations League, which took a back seat to Sinner’s semi-final win at the US Open. On the front page of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sinner dominated the headlines, while the football team's victory was relegated to the background. It marked a significant shift in Italian sports culture.
For the first time in memory, a tennis player has outshone Italy’s footballers. Sinner, hailing from South Tyrol, has captured the imagination of the nation with his talent and victories, consistently making front-page news, even when the footballers perform at their best.
This was evident during Friday night’s simultaneous broadcasts: RAI Uno showed the football match, while Sky Sports aired Sinner’s US Open semi-final. Many Italian sports fans, typically drawn to football, opted to watch Sinner, marking a notable shift in audience preferences.
With Sinner now aiming for his first US Open title and his second Grand Slam of the year, the excitement surrounding him is at an all-time high. Italian fans are eager to see him take the top spot in world tennis, while football, particularly the Nations League, now seems less captivating in comparison.