Tennis superstar Jannik Sinner. © APA/afp / MARTIN KEEP
After his opening victory in Melbourne, Jannik Sinner took a look at South Tyrol, 16,000 kilometers away – and raved about Federica Brignone.
20 January 2026
From: det
Federica Brignone’s phenomenal comeback moved Italy’s sports world on Tuesday. After a brutal leg and knee injury sustained last April, the reigning overall World Cup winner at Kronplatz made a surprise return to the big stage. With an outstanding 6th place, Brignone promptly showed that she has not lost anything in her class – even though she is still plagued by pain.
One person who is following everything very closely is Jannik Sinner. And that despite the fact that the man from Sexten is currently on the other side of the world – or 16,000 kilometers away – and is fighting for his third Australian Open title in Melbourne.
Ski-Star Federica Brignone hat ihr Comeback gefeiert. © ANSA / ANDREA SOLERO
After his first round victory over Hugo Gaston, the Sesto native was asked about Brignone at the press conference. The two know each other personally, after all “Fede” was a guest at tournaments in Rome and Turin last year. The skier from the Aosta Valley always raved about Sinner. Now it’s the other way around.
“You have to have a lot of courage to go back to the starting line-up after such an injury.”
Jannik Sinner
“What she is doing is something incredible that hardly anyone else can do,” said Sinner, amazed at the Brignone comeback. “I know how hard she worked in the weight room, how much she had to suffer, how much she invested. You have to have a lot of courage to go back to the starting line after an injury like that and throw yourself on the slopes. There are these athletes who are real phenomena, who have this tick more than others. Fede is one of them, as is Sofia Goggia, who has also been seriously injured many times.”
Jannik Sinner with Federica Brignone at the tournament in Rome last May.
Brignone’s big goal is the Olympic races in Cortina d’Ampezzo. “Regardless of the result, I wish her nothing but the best for the Olympics,” said Sinner, who also spoke about the differences between tennis and skiing in terms of injuries. “Luckily, I’ve never had an injury as serious as Fede’s. Skiing and tennis are two completely different sports. If you get injured while skiing, you’re out the whole season, but in tennis you come back after two or three months. Not to mention that the risk in tennis is much lower.”
While Brignone will now work intensively towards the Olympic Games, Sinner is fighting for his third Australian Open title in Melbourne. On Thursday he will face local hero James Duckworth (ATP 88) in the second round.
