Jannik Sinner reveals he has been having Call of Duty sessions with Italian football hero
Jannik Sinner is revelling in his status as one of the most famous sports stars in Italy and he has revealed his celebrity status has allowed him to become friends with one of his nation’s top footballers.
Sinner’s status as a national hero in Italy leapt to new heights as he led his nation to Davis Cup glory last November, beating world No 1 Novak Djokovic en-route to glory in Malaga, with his Australian Open win in January adding to his rising profile.
Sinner met up with the Italian soccer squad while they prepared for international matches against Venezuela and Ecuador in recent days and he revealed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has become friends.
Paris Saint-Germain keeper Donnarumma has posted social media messages congratulating Sinner on his successes in recent months and now he has opened up on their friendship that is built around their love of gaming and especially Call of Duty.
“I’m quite a good friend of Donnarumma and sometimes we play Call of Duty together,” Sinner told the Tennis Channel.
“Now a little bit less but we have always been in contact. He’s a really nice man.”
Sinner also spoke about his meeting with the Italian soccer stars as he stated: “I had the chance to talk to the players, which was really nice. The coach, really nice. I think it was just an amazing experience from my side, you know.
“It is something different. I like to do also stuff not only in tennis, but off the court I love to be in sport environments like you know, football and then if I have a chance, then I would like to see the NBA as well.”
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Sinner admits he has struggled to get used to the idea that he is now a big star in his homeland, with this quietly spoken 22-year-old not comfortable in the glare of the spotlight.
“I’m not looking for attention off the court,” added Sinner.
“If people recognize me, it is a good feeling, a nice feeling. I guess it’s a good problem to have in one way.
“In the other way, sometimes when you want to go to eat something normally in a restaurant, it’s also a bit different. I think it’s a good problem to have in one way.
“Honestly, I don’t care so much how famous I am because I always have done normal things. I am a normal boy or man, becoming a man now. There are some things that change, but in the other way it’s all good.”
Sinner’s celebrity status is certain to rise as he is being courted by some of the biggest brands in the world after emerging as a key figure in the future of the men’s game.
Novak Djokovic appears to be winding down his iconic career, with Sinner’s three wins against him in their last four meetings chipping away at his aura as the dominant player in the game.
While it will take a long time for Sinner and his great rival Carlos Alcaraz to attain the kind of international superstardom that has been the norm for Djokovic for many years, the two young guns fighting it out for the biggest prizes in tennis are starting to develop their auras as global sporting greats.
