"Now there are many children who play tennis": Fabio Fognini credits Jannik Sinner for starting 'huge movement' in Italy

Italy’s Fabio Fognini has credited Jannik Sinner for starting a ‘huge movement’ in the country. The 23-year-old is regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category along with the likes of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.

Former world number nine Fognini has recently spoken to Relevo where he credited Sinner for starting a ‘huge movement’ in the country because of his success on the court. “With him, a huge movement has been created,” he said. “Now there are many children who play tennis, and this is the most important thing.”

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Jannik Sinner compared to Venus Williams by Italian Tennis Chief: “A complete player now”

Sinner has recently concluded a remarkable season where he was simply unstoppable. The San Candido-born won the Australian Open after one-time Grand Slam winner Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final in a five-set thriller with a score of 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Sinner then lifted the US Open after beating America’s Taylor Fritz in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

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"I would get every single person in the crowd to get on him": Nick Kyrgios on potential clash with Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open

The reigning world number one ended the season with an ATP Finals title as well as he once again defeated Fritz in the final in straight sets, this time on home soil, with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Sinner then went on to help his country in defending the Davis Cup title. They defeated the Netherlands in the final with a score of 2-0 to defend their titles. Those performances helped Sinner end the year as the world number one for the first time in his career, that too with a lead of more than 3,000 points. While doing that, the reigning world number one becomes only the second player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era to finish the season without losing a match in straight sets. The only other to do that was the former world number one Switzerland’s Roger Federer.