Shortly before the start of the US Open, where he will be competing as the reigning champion, tennis star Jannik Sinner shows an unusually personal side. In an interview with international journalists in New York, the 24-year-old South Tyrolean spoke not only about the pressure of the sport and his upcoming title defense, but also about Lego cars, music and love. He paints the picture of a down-to-earth athlete at the top of the world.
Relaxing with Lego and a private confession of love
Away from the tennis court, Sinner finds relaxation in a passion that is rather atypical for a professional athlete: building Lego models. "I have a bit more time here in New York and went to a Lego store," he says. He completed the Porsche model he bought in just five hours. It's a perfect way to clear his head while listening to music. This modesty runs through his stories, for example when he talks about his "normal parents" and the South Tyrolean dialect spoken at home. When asked about his love life, the otherwise reserved champion gave a clear answer: "Yes, I'm in love", but without revealing any further details.
Focus on defending the title and the duel with Alcaraz
Despite the personal insights, the focus is fully on the sport. Sinner starts the tournament on Tuesday against Vit Kopriva from the Czech Republic. However, the tennis world is already looking further ahead and is expecting another clash with his perennial rival Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard, who leads the head-to-head with 9:5 wins, explained that he was hoping for a final against Sinner and felt better prepared than ever before. Sinner himself had to retire in the final of the Masters tournament in Cincinnati due to a viral illness, but was confident for the US Open. The duel between the two exceptional talents promises to dominate the tournament again this year.
