LONDON (AP) — Clay, grass, hard courts, even snow.
There seems to be no difference in the surface underfoot. Jannik Sinner.
Top-ranked player — currently looking to defend his title Wimbledon — was one of Italy’s top junior skiers before devoting himself to tennis seriously.
Now, Sinner excels on all types of courts, and his background as a skier may have helped his tennis game.
Just as elite slalom skiers shift their weight flawlessly back and forth from one gate to the next, Sinner rarely loses his balance as he darts back and forth across the baseline, despite his tall, lanky frame at 6-foot-3 (1.91 meters).
Fellow tennis player Casper Ruud agreed that the most impressive thing about Sinner was his movement.
“He also has great balance and flexibility to play in certain positions,” Ruud said. “He has good hip movement and knows how to slide into both corners.”
Ski legend Lindsey Vonn He also pointed out that thinner has the ability to maintain balance.
“He has incredible athleticism, which is an important skill in both sports.” Bonn told The Associated Press.. “He is very aware of his body space and time, so even though he is tall, he moves fluidly and in sync.”
Sinner won the National Ski Championships when he was eight years old and took second place at the Italian National Championships when he was 12 years old.
Sinner Giovanni Franzoni won the 2009 giant slalom. Downhiller who broke out last season — Finished in 12th place, 4 seconds behind.
Franzoni is currently the Kitzbühel downhill champion and Olympic silver medalist.
“You were really good at it.” After winning his first Grand Slam title in 2024, Sinner said:. “But then when I started competing against older guys in slalom and giant slalom, I had a few so-so seasons, and when downhill came along, I was too underweight to compete.
“So I continued playing tennis,” Sinner added. “In skiing, if you make a mistake, you’re out. It’s a dangerous sport and you have to get up early in the morning and go outside in the freezing cold. Tennis is a little more accessible. I think I made the right choice in the end.”
Vonn, who shares a sponsorship with Sinner, once hit the slopes with the tennis star.
“His skiing is similar to the way he plays tennis: smooth, fluid, and looks easy,” Vonn said in written comments. “His knees and hips are always parallel and always balanced. I really enjoyed skiing with him and would love to do it again, but only after his tennis career is over!”
Many elite skiers incorporate tennis into their summer training. Vonn’s fellow Olympic champion Bode Miller was a state high school champion tennis player in Maine, and his family ran a tennis academy in New Hampshire. He once tried to qualify for the U.S. Open.
“I love tennis. It has a positive effect on my footwork, mental strength and general athleticism,” Vonn said. “I know a lot of skiers who play tennis as a form of cross-training. It’s a way to push yourself both physically and mentally. Even though you’re physically tired, you have to be mentally strategic and calm under pressure. I love that about tennis.”
Vonn became the top World Cup downhiller last season at the age of 41. Tragic crash at Milan-Cortina Olympics I left her in February. Severe left leg fracture.
Ruud, a Norwegian, was also a skier as a child, “but I’m not as good at moving as him,” he said of Sinner.
“I don’t necessarily mean he skied when he was younger, which is why he moves so well,” Ruud said. “I mean, look at (Carlos) Alcaraz. He didn’t ski, but he also moves very well.”
After all, Ruud suggested it’s good for kids to try as many sports as possible.
“Whether it’s skiing, running, golfing, whatever it is, it’s great to do something that keeps you active. I’ve never seen Jannik ski other than on video. It would be fun to have a ski competition one day,” Ruud said with a smile.
Kostyuk’s gymnastics and backflips
when Marta Kostyuk wins Madrid Open In May, she performed her traditional title celebration by performing a backflip.
It paid homage to the Ukrainian athlete’s background in gymnastics, where she practiced until she was 11 years old.
Although Kostyuk appreciated the physical part of gymnastics, outside of the gym it was a stressful sport for her.
“I had to get super thin. I had to control what I ate. From ages 8 to 10, I weighed myself 20 to 30 times a day,” Kostyuk said. “It obviously had some effects on me, but I had to work through it.”
Kostyuk tore her abductor muscle while doing gymnastics as a child, which she described as “a really big injury.”
“It affected my career as well,” she said. “I made the corrections, but it took time. I don’t know about Jannik or if he’s ever had a major injury. But I’ve been there, so there’s always two sides. But it certainly helped my tennis, and I’m happy to come out better on the other side.”
Kobolli’s soccer skills
French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli He was a talented soccer player and member of a youth club in Rome until he decided to concentrate completely on tennis.
“I have good physical ability and a lot of stamina. Soccer probably helped me (in that department),” Kobori said.
Many of the soccer players he trained with as a child are now professionals and remain good friends. Watford midfielder Edoardo Bovet, Arsenal fullback Riccardo CalafioliAtalanta winger Nikola Zalewski and Lazio winger Matteo Canlieri.
Djokovic was also a skier
Like Sinner, Novak Djokovic grew up on a ski slope in Serbia, where his father was a ski racer and instructor.
Along with Djokovic, Sinner is one of the few players to hit a sliding shot on the grass.
“I’ve always been very natural,” Sinner said of his sliding ability. “Skiing was probably a big part of the balance.”
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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
