Francis said that because tennis is an individual sport, or played in doubles, “the object of the game seems to be to be better than your opponent.”
“But if you look at the history of your club, it is actually an expression of the founder’s openness to good things coming from abroad and dialogue with other cultures, given its English origins. I understand.”
The Barcelona club was celebrating its 125th anniversary.
“Just like in life, you can’t always win in tennis,” Francis added. “But if you follow the rules and play in an educated way, it’s a rich challenge. …Sports aren’t just about competition, they’re about relationships. And in the case of tennis, it’s about being artistic. It’s a conversation with a lot of.”
In November, Sinner also led Italy to their first Davis Cup victory since 1976. Sinner and the rest of Italy’s Davis Cup winners will be honored by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday.
The last Italian player to win a Grand Slam singles title was Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Sinner is still ranked No. 4, but Panatta said he has proven over the past four months that he deserves to be No. 1.
“He is an extraordinary kid, one of the best players we have in our exports,” Panatta told Italian radio. “He will definitely win many competitions. He combines great skills, great aspirations and great character. Moreover, he knows how to handle himself in difficult moments. Players rarely see that.”
Sinner came back from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final.
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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