Jannik Sinner paraded his trophy around Albert Park Lake (Image: Getty)
Jannik Sinner has revealed sharing the Australian Open with his adopted brother Marc was the “best thing” about his latest triumph.
And the Italian, who said he comes from a “normal family”, said he will have to keep his third Grand Slam trophy back home because his Monaco apartment is “too small”.
Sinner, 23, praised his “perfect parents” Johann and Siglinde after his maiden Major victory in Melbourne 12 months ago.
This time the world No.1 has given special mention to his “best friend” Marc who was born in in 1998 and adopted by the Sinners when he was nine months old. He now works as a trainer for the fire brigade in South Tyrol near Austria.
The tennis superstar, whose first language is German, enjoys huge fame in his homeland and the first 19 pages of Gazzetta dello Sport were dedicated to his success on Monday. But speaking at a Monday morning photoshoot in Albert Park Lake, Sinner said the celebrations had been low key for a man and family who do not seek the limelight.
“We had a nice dinner with all the team, my brother was here, just having a great time together, which is exactly what we needed,” he said.
“Having Marc here was maybe the best part of the victory. Nobody knows me better than him, for me he is an important person, I call him, I confide in him, I know that I can tell him everything and he understands me. Because he knows where we come from, from a normal family, he knows how I have lived since I was a child. Having him here was the best thing about the tournament. My happy place is with the people I love.”
Sinner left home at 14 and moved to Monaco aged 18. But asked where he will keep his latest AO trophy, he said: “At my parents’ place. In Monaco my appointment is too small!”
Jannik Sinner won his third Grand Slam title (Image: Getty)
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The Italian had admitted pre-tournament that he was unsure how he would be received by the Aussie crowds because of his ongoing doping case.
He avoided a ban in August after failing two drug tests last month – he claimed he was contaminated via a massage – but the Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear an appeal in April
“The crowd has been amazing,” he said.Maybe the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is seeking a ban of up to two years, is the only opposition who can stop Sinner. He has a 30-2 record at Slams since winning his first Melbourne title 12 months ago with his only defeats coming at the French Open and .
“Of course, on hard court sI feel more comfortable but I take it as positive because on the other surfaces I still have to improve.
“I’m still young, and I think I have time to adjust, especially on grass court, because I never played the juniors,” he said.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander said: “Sinner’s mentality is incredibly intense. None of Alcaraz, Zverev or Medvedev are as authoritative. Every shot he hits is done with a precise aim. That is how he imposes incredible pressure. He never lets go, like a dog trying to catch a frisbee. The dog doesn’t wait for it to fall – he goes looking for it. Sinner is like that on every ball.”