One of Italy’s great tennis players of all time believes the current suspension of the Tour due to COVID-19 will not hinder the development of Jannik Sinner.
Adriano Panatta, who won the 1976 French Open, believes the age of the Next Gen star is a benefit during the current situation. Sinner hasn’t played a competitive match since the Indian Wells Challenger during the first week of March. All professional tennis tournaments have been suspended until July, but many fear that the suspension will be extended further. Some national tennis federations are considering setting up their own tournaments to give players some match play.
Speaking with Italian newspaper Libero, Panatta believes the world No.73 should use the break as an opportunity to improve his game further. Sinner is currently residing in Monte Carlo during the lockdown.
“He is 18 years old. It is true that he intended to play a lot this season, but he has plenty of time to recover. You can take advantage to improve your technical gestures,” said Panatta.
“He already plays good fundamentals, but at the net something can improve, and he can strengthen the forehand. Above all, it must be formed from the point of view of physical prowess. Having no commitments, he can concentrate on this.”
Last year Sinner broke through on the professional tour with the help of three Challenger titles. In November he won the biggest trophy of his career at the Next Gen Finals when he defeated Alex de Minaur in the final. The meteoric rise has seen him climb more than 400 places within 12 months. At the end of 2019 he became the youngest player to finish in the year-end top 80 since Rafael Nadal back in 2003.
Earlier this month the teenager announced he and his team (management company StarWing sports and coach Riccardo Piatti) have donated 12,500 Euros to The Cesvi Foundation. A humanitarian organisation working to support medical emergencies in Bergamo, Italy.
“The unity in Italy throughout this crisis has been incredible. Among many thousands of Italians that have helped through this crisis, I want to applaud the 250 volunteers who came together in Bergamo recently to build a Field Hospital in just eight days,” Sinner wrote. “This unity is what will get us through this period. I want to do my part, as much as I can, to contribute in pulling us out of this.”
Besides the rising star, 69-year-old Panatta also believes the suspension could also be good news for other top Italian players. Mentioning the recent injury issues of Fabio Fognin and Matteo Berrettini. Fognini had been hampered by elbow and ankle issues in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Berrettini has been struggled with his abdomin.
“Both boys had aches and pains and the forced stop can only do them good,” he said.
“Maybe Fognini will take advantage of the quarantine to convince Flavia Pennetta to return to the field?”
During his career, Panatta reached a ranking high of fourth in the world.
