{"id":338987,"date":"2025-08-12T17:23:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/338987\/"},"modified":"2025-08-12T17:23:15","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:23:15","slug":"italian-tennis-legend-hits-back-at-media-for-twisting-his-words-about-jannik-sinner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/338987\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian tennis legend hits back at media for twisting his words about Jannik Sinner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jannik Sinner\u2019s 2025 ATP Tour campaign has been one for the ages, as he continues to dominate the men\u2019s game.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In January, Sinner won his third Grand Slam title<\/a> at the Australian Open, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3, in the final.<\/p>\n

He then encountered one of the biggest setbacks of his career, as Sinner was suspended for three months<\/a>, bringing an end to the \u2018Clostebol\u2019 saga.<\/p>\n

Returning on the clay, Sinner reached the final of the Italian Open and French Open, but came up short against Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> on both occasions.<\/p>\n

Finally getting one over on his biggest rival, Sinner defeated Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final<\/a> to win his second major of the year.<\/p>\n

\"JannikPhoto by Clive Brunskill\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sitting pretty atop the ATP<\/a> rankings, with two of the three Grand Slams in his back pocket, things couldn\u2019t be going much better for Sinner, although that\u2019s not to say he hasn\u2019t been embroiled in controversy.<\/p>\n

Sinner\u2019s fellow Italian and national tennis hero, Nicola Pietrangeli, has made several comments about the world number one that haven\u2019t gone down well.<\/p>\n

However, looking to clarify his thoughts on Sinner<\/a>, Pietrangeli has now claimed that the media were twisting his words.<\/p>\n

During an interview with Super Tennis<\/a>, Italian tennis legend Pietrangeli suggested the media have been forcing a false narrative about him and Sinner.<\/p>\n

\u201cInterviews? They change my words, that\u2019s enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, in the end, what I don\u2019t understand is how people can think I want to speak badly of [Jannik] Sinner because I\u2019m jealous.<\/p>\n

\"NicolaPhoto by Marco Canoniero\/LightRocket via Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cBut why? Why should I speak badly of him? How dare they?\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently discharged from hospital, Pietrangeli made a joke about the costs of healthcare, referring to Sinner once more.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything they tell me has a cost,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m not as rich as Sinner\u2026 and I\u2019m just joking because I can already see they\u2019re going to start another controversy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JannikPhoto by Tim Clayton\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

During an interview last November, Pietrangeli claimed Sinner would never break his Davis Cup record<\/a>, suggesting he would need \u2018three or four lifetimes\u2019 to do so.<\/p>\n

Pietrangeli holds the record for most Davis Cup<\/a> matches played and won, which, in fairness, is likely to stand the test of time.<\/p>\n\nName<\/strong><\/td>\nAge<\/strong><\/td>\nNation<\/strong><\/td>\nDavis Cup matches played<\/strong><\/td>\nDavis Cup matches won<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nNicola Pietrangeli<\/td>\n91<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\n164<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRoger Federer<\/td>\n43<\/td>\nSwitzerland<\/td>\n70<\/td>\n52<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nNovak Djokovic<\/td>\n37<\/td>\nSerbia<\/td>\n62<\/td>\n46<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAndy Murray<\/td>\n37<\/td>\nGreat Britain<\/td>\n52<\/td>\n42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRafael Nadal<\/td>\n38<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\n43<\/td>\n37<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJannik Sinner<\/td>\n23<\/td>\nItaly<\/td>\n19<\/td>\n15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCarlos Alcaraz<\/td>\n21<\/td>\nSpain<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Notable ATP stars and how far they are away from Nicola Pietrangeli\u2019s record<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, when the 23-year-old won his second consecutive Australian Open title, Pietrangeli suggested Sinner\u2019s win over Zverev was \u2018boring\u2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whilst the headline quotes don\u2019t always paint Pietrangeli in the best light, in his defense, he does often qualify such statements with praise for the Italian world number one.<\/p>\n

The 91-year-old clearly has a lot of respect for Sinner, as the youngster builds on the legacy he started in 1959.<\/p>\n

List of Italian Grand Slam champions<\/p>\n

At the 1959 French Open<\/a>, Pietrangeli became the first Italian player to win a major title, defeating Ian Vermaak in the final.<\/p>\n

Defending his title a year later, Pietrangeli eventually retired with two Grand Slam titles to his name.<\/p>\n

65 years on, Italian players have won seven more majors, as the nation begins to establish itself as a true tennis superpower.<\/p>\n