Wimbledon Top Seed Sinner Leads Italian Tennis Renaissance

Millions of Italians, traditionally obsessed with soccer, now find themselves equally captivated by Jannik Sinner, Italy’s first top seed in Wimbledon history.

Sinner recently claimed the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic and secured his first grass-court title in Halle, Germany. At 22, he is the face of a broader Italian tennis revival, with seven Italian men ranked in the world’s top 60, matched only by the United States.

This surge includes a young talent pool, with six of the nine Italian men in the top 100 aged between 20 and 23. Historically, Italy struggled to produce top-tier tennis players, with the last Grand Slam win by an Italian man occurring in 1976. However, significant reforms in the Italian tennis federation (FITP) over the past 15 years have decentralized coaching and provided substantial support to young players.

Instead of centralized national training centers, promising players now develop with their coaches at home, supported by regional training hubs and guidance from federation “super-coaches.” This approach has united coaches, clubs, families, and players, boosting grassroots participation. High-profile successes like Sinner’s Australian Open win and Matteo Berrettini’s 2021 Wimbledon final appearance have also fueled interest, raising the number of registered club players to 820,000.

The FITP aims to exceed 1 million registered players, increasing funding for facilities, coaching, and tournaments. Italy now hosts the most “challenger” tournaments, providing young players with crucial experience through wildcards, which fast-track their development.

Seventeen-year-old Federico Cina, benefiting from this system, trains at home in Palermo and aims for junior success at Wimbledon. The FITP supports all aspects of his development, from financial backing to mental coaching, helping him handle key match moments.

This comprehensive support system and decentralized training approach have transformed Italian tennis, positioning it among the world’s best.