Jannik Sinner’s rapid rise to stardom is a story filled with triumphs and challenges. Currently, he is vying to win the semifinals at the French Open and will soon be claiming a top spot in the tennis world. But his backstory paints a different picture, which includes his struggles and overcoming significant barriers as a kid. However, the coach, Luka Cvjetkovic, came to his rescue at the time. Delving into this fascinating story, the Italian No. 1 player shed light on how he overcame his language barrier and adapted to a new place with the help of Cvjetkovic.

Born and brought up in San Candido, Jannik Sinner hardly knew the Italian language, as the locals predominantly spoke German in his city. However, Sinner, who first held his racquet at the age of seven, made up his mind to move to Liguria to train at the Riccardo Piatti Academy. Leaving behind his interest in football, Sinner was now looking to pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. Soon, he met the Croatian coach, Cvjetkovic, and his life took a turn. Moving in with the family of his Croatian coach, Sinner continued his journey in tennis.

“I would do it all again because it helped me grow. You go to the supermarket, do your washing, clean up after cooking. These small things were important because, at 14, they mature you,” the 22-year-old player said. The Miami Open winner, who was once a skier champion, left skiing due to its unforgiving nature when one made a mistake. However, after that, Sinner, who is a supporter of AC Milan, also enjoyed football before finally switching to tennis at teenage. Referring to that, he said, “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.”

However, the Australian Open champion further showed his gratitude to his coach for helping him during this time. “It helped that, with Luka, I felt very safe. His daughter was five years younger than me and the son a bit smaller. I was like their older brother and they also had a dog. I love animals and we never had a dog because my parents were working so hard.” However, his problem with speaking Italian still persisted.

“Luka’s wife and me used hand signs instead of talking. They were amazing and I don’t know where I’d be without them.” After almost a decade of that, Sinner continues to show his talent on-court. Crowned as the soon-to-be world No. 1 player, he is making history in the tennis world by representing his country to the top of tennis for the first time. However, even after reaching major heights in tennis, Jannik Sinner remains close to his roots, especially his family.

Jannik Sinner reveals about the “great time” he has with his family

According to Jannik Sinner, “Growing up away from home was the fastest way to grow up.” Therefore, World No. 2 tries to be closer to his family whenever he can. His father, Johann, works in a restaurant along with his mother, Siglinde, and they are currently not present in France due to their work.  However, Sinner, who spent most of his time with his grandparents as a kid, admitted, “I don’t see them so often, unfortunately, but when I see them it’s always a great time.”

As Sinner continues to make his indelible mark on-court, the tennis community will also remember the silent battles that he fought off-court. But as of now, fans are waiting to see another of his great performances at Roland Garros semifinal match.