Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner returned to Italy to great cheers on Tuesday and headed straight for private talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. When Sinner entered his office at Palazzo Chigi, he was “grandissimo,” Meloni said.
“I want to show you something,” Meloni said, turning on a replay of the match point of Sinner’s five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final. This time, the Italians recovered from two sets down. It’s great to be able to experience that after the fact,” Sinner said.
Sinner and Meloni posed for photos, first with the Australian Open trophy and then with the Italian flag held aloft. Sinner then gave Meloni a warm hug and ended the meeting.
“The Italy we like is a country that believes in itself and is able to meet difficult challenges and win,” Meloni later said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “Thank you, Yannick, for setting an example for sports enthusiasts, young people and all of Italy.”
Sports Minister Andrea Abodi also accompanied Mr. Sinner to the Prime Minister’s Office. “It was an informal meeting,” Abode told reporters. “They talked like they were friends,” Abodi added, adding that Meloni “knew tennis” and “joked about padel and said they might meet again during the Italian Open.” I was joking,” he added.
“Mr. Jannik was very polite to everyone, as many people were applauding him in the palace,” Abodi said. “It was thrilling to drive around with the trophy. This is the first time this trophy has arrived in Italy.”
RAI state television broadcast Sinner arriving at Rome’s airport, where he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and an orange racquet bag slung over his shoulder. Sinner also carried a green bag with a gold strap that appeared to contain a trophy.
Sinner became the first Italian man to win a Grand Slam singles title in nearly half a century since Adriano Panatta won the 1976 French Open. In November, Sinner also led Italy to their first Davis Cup victory since 1976.
Sinner will hold a press conference on Wednesday with Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation. He and his Davis Cup teammates will then be honored by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday. On Monday, Pope Francis congratulated Italy’s Sinner on his victory.