27/11/2024
It’s hard to believe now, but back in 2019, a 17-year-old Jannik Sinner wasn’t the powerhouse he is today. Steve Johnson, an American tennis pro, remembers it vividly—a tall, super-skinny kid stepping onto the court, and all Johnson could think was, “You’ve got to win this.” In his mind, Sinner, just 6'3" and weighing barely 112 pounds, looked more like a boy than a future tennis star. “He was not so good,” Johnson chuckles on the *Nothing Major* podcast, recalling their encounter at the Rome Masters, where Sinner pulled off a stunning 1-6, 6-1, 7-5 comeback.
But while Johnson may have underestimated the young Italian, Sinner knew better. He remembers his childhood days when he struggled with a racket too heavy for his thin arms, admitting that back then, physical strength wasn’t on his side. “Talent does not exist for me,” he’s said. “You have to earn it.” His approach to tennis was built on grit—determination to turn that weakness into one of his greatest strengths. And boy, has he succeeded.
Fast-forward to today, and the “super-skinny” Sinner is anything but. He’s now one of the hardest hitters in the game, with a physique honed through hours in the gym. “I’m more in the gym than on the tennis court right now,” he admits, crediting his physical growth as a key factor in his rise. The work he’s put into his fitness has not only transformed his body but propelled him to the highest echelons of tennis, with back-to-back titles and a Grand Slam under his belt.
What’s most fascinating about Sinner’s journey isn’t just his transformation from a skinny teenager to a tennis powerhouse, but his philosophy on talent itself: It’s not enough to have natural ability. It’s about the sweat, the hours, the grind behind the scenes. And when you look at him now, it’s clear—the kid who wasn’t supposed to be that good is now one of the most dominant forces on the ATP Tour.