Matteo Berrettini heaps praise on ‘special’ Italy team-mate Jannik Sinner - ‘The most humble player there is’
Published 25/11/2024 at 20:21 GMT
Matteo Berrettini labelled Italy team-mate Jannik Sinner "special" and the "most humble player there is" after the World No.1 capped off 2024 by claiming a second successive Davis Cup title with Italy. Sinner also won the ATP Finals in Malaga, Spain, last week as well as the Australian Open and US Open earlier in the season. Berrettini then revealed advice he would have given himself a year ago.
'One of the best feelings' - Sinner savours repeat Davis Cup success for Italy
Video credit: SNTV
Matteo Berrettini has labelled Italy team-mate Jannik Sinner as "special" and the "most humble player there is".
Sinner, the World No.1, capped off 2024 by helping his nation to a second successive Davis Cup title, just a week after winning the ATP Finals in Malaga, Spain.
And 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini heaped praise on his Italy team-mate - and reigning Australian Open and US Open champion - Sinner after their Davis Cup success.
"I think I speak for everyone, it’s a special experience. Last year when we were here, we looked at each other and said ‘this guy is special, he is different’," the 28-year-old said, via Tennis365.
"We had never seen anyone hit so hard, so flat and make so few mistakes. It seemed like he never made mistakes. Since then, he has only lost six matches and proved to be the best in the world.
"But as you have seen, he is the most humble player there is. He came here as if he had not won the ATP Finals. He showed great respect for the team.
"Before entering the doubles against Argentina, he asked the whole team if anyone was okay with that decision and that is something special.
"His tennis is incredible … but it is about how he manages everything off the court and the way he relates to people."
Elsewhere, Berrettini was asked the advice he would give himself a year ago if he could go back in time.
The former world No 6 said: "I would tell him ‘don’t give up’.
"Last year was really nice to be here, but at the same time, I remember a moment, like, why did I come? I wasn’t part of the team 100%, but I’m competitive and I want to be part of the team.
"But then at the end of the day, after the whole week, I said it was really important for you to come, because I support them, because I was really happy for them, but also for me.
"I took so much energy from those matches. I once again realised how much I care about [the] Davis Cup.
"And living those moments I took all this energy, and I was, like, okay, next year, you’re going to be here, you’re going to be fighting for Italy. I used that as an engine for the training sessions and everything that happened afterwards."
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