“When I was younger, I think the biggest inspiration was always Roger Federer“. Jannik Sinner, much like many young players, looked up to the legendary Roger Federer. While their paths haven’t crossed on the court yet, there’s a fascinating twist in their journeys – both Sinner and Federer share a delightful coincidence in their rise from teenage phenoms to tennis superstardom.

Jannik Sinner grew up in South Tyrol in northern Italy. While his father was a chef, his mother was a waitress at the ski lodge where they used to live. But later on, he left his home at the age of 14 to get better at tennis and got enrolled himself at the Riccardo Piatti Academy in Bordighera (400 miles away from his hometown). Reflecting on that emotional moment, Sinner said, “It was tough, leaving home.” However, he feels it was “tougher” for his parents to allow their son to get away at such a young age. But he’s happy that his parents gave him that “freedom.“

And as they say, hard work pays off! The World No. 2 is now a superstar in the tennis world and has already won thirteen titles in his career including a Grand Slam triumph. But the path wasn’t easy at all! “I went through a tough time, leaving my home, my family, my friends, skiing and football. There were many things I gave up but it was good for me.” Sinner’s story resonates that of Federer’s!

Even the 20-time Grand Slam champion, Roger Federer had left his family to live and train at the national training center of the Swiss Federation. “When I was 14, I left home and attended a performance centre,” Federer told GQ Germany. “At 14, I moved out of home and went to a performance center. Those were probably the two most important years of my life. I learned so much for life,” the now-tennis legend revealed further.

Federer managed to convince his parents to let him quit school to devote his time to honing his skills in the racquet sport. Unlike Sinner whose parents gave him freedom to explore tennis, Federer had a “realistic” deal with his parents.

Roger’s commitment with a back-up plan

Roger Federer admitted that the decision to leave his home was really tough. “When I was 16, I decided to quit school. I tried online lessons for a few months, but then I quickly realized that I couldn’t do both and that I had to put everything on the line”. Eventually, he had to leave his schooling and dedicate his entire time to tennis. Before doing so, he had a deal with his parents. 

“I had a deal with my parents to give tennis a realistic chance and if it didn’t work out, to go back to school straight away and without complaining. What can I say, something has happened (laughs),” Roger Federer added. Roger’s hard work paid off as he never looked back and went to become the legend of the sport!

At just 14, he was already Switzerland’s junior champion, a testament to his immense potential. Three years later, that potential blossomed at Wimbledon, where he secured his first Grand Slam title, marking a pivotal point in his career. By 18, he became the youngest Swiss player to be called up to the Davis Cup squad, showcasing his rapid rise. And then came 2003, the year he etched his name in history by claiming his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

Although Jannik Sinner didn’t get the chance to play against Federer, the Swiss Maestro was once asked how would he feel if had the chance to play against Sinner. Replying to this, Roger Federer said, “Well right now it would be not fair. He would be the big champion, you know. Me, I would be chasing the balls.” He looked quite impressed with the performance of the Italian over the past few months.

This victory was just the beginning of a remarkable journey filled with titles and achievements that left fans and experts in awe. Do you think Jannik Sinner can become a top player like the Swiss Maestro in the near future?