'Humble' Jannik Sinner 'is different', says Matteo Berrettini in emotional tribute

Jannik Sinner has been described as “special” and the “most humble player there is” by Italy team-mate Matteo Berrettini.

World No 1 Sinner has capped off a quite extraordinary 2024 season by steering Italy to their second consecutive Davis Cup title.

Just a week after winning the ATP Finals undefeated, the 23-year-old won three singles rubbers and one doubles encounter as the defending champions beat Argentina, Australia and the Netherlands en route to lifting the title in Malaga, Spain.

Sinner – who won eight titles this season including the Australian Open and US Open – is undisputedly the best men’s player in the world at the moment, but it’s not just his tennis that has impressed Berrettini as the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up also praised his character.

“I think I speak for everyone, it’s a special experience. Last year when we were here, we looked at each other and said ‘this guy is special, he is different’,” the 28-year-old said.

“We had never seen anyone hit so hard, so flat and make so few mistakes. It seemed like he never made mistakes. Since then he has only lost six matches and proved to be the best in the world.

“But as you have seen, he is the most humble player there is. He came here as if he had not won the ATP Finals. He showed great respect for the team.

“Before entering the doubles against Argentina, he asked the whole team if anyone was okay with that decision and that is something special.

“His tennis is incredible … but it is about how he manages everything off the court and the way he relates to people.”

Berrettini watched Italy’s 2023 celebrations from the sidelines as he had endured a nightmare season due to injury, but he returned to the fold this campaign.

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Asked what advice he would give to himself 12 months ago if he could go back in time, the former world No 6 replied: “I would tell him ‘don’t give up’.

“Last year was really nice to be here, but at the same time, I remember a moment, like, why did I come? I wasn’t part of the team 100 per cent, but I’m competitive and I want to be part of the team.

“But then at the end of the day, after the whole week, I said it was really important for you to come, because I support them, because I was really happy for them, but also for me. I took so much energy from those matches.

“I once again realised how much I care about [the] Davis Cup. And living those moments I took all this energy, and I was, like, okay, next year, you’re going to be here, you’re going to be fighting for Italy. I used that as an engine for the training sessions and everything that happened afterwards.”

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