LONDON — World No. 1 Jannik Sinner said his background in competitive skiing helped develop the balance and movement that have contributed to his success across all tennis surfaces as he continues his Wimbledon title defense.
Sinner, the defending Wimbledon champion, competed in skiing before committing to tennis full time. He won an Italian national skiing championship at age 8 and finished runner-up at the national level at age 12.
The 6-foot-3 Italian has earned praise for his movement on the court, with players and former ski champions pointing to his balance and footwork.
Fellow tennis player Casper Ruud said Sinner’s movement stands out because of his balance and flexibility.
“He’s strong also in balance and flexible to get to certain positions,” Ruud said. “He has good hip movement and knows how to slide (into) both corners.”
Former Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn also credited Sinner’s balance and body control.
“He has an amazing kinesthetic sense, which is an important skill in both sports,” Vonn told The Associated Press. “He is very aware of his body in space and time, so even though he is tall, he moves fluidly and in sync.”
Sinner said he chose tennis after competing in skiing against older athletes and finding it more difficult to match them physically.
“I was really good,” Sinner said after winning his first Grand Slam title in 2024. “But then I had a couple of so-so seasons when I started competing against older athletes in slalom and giant slalom and when downhill came into the picture I weighed too little to compete.”
“So I kept on playing tennis,” he added. “In skiing, if you make a mistake you’re out; it’s a dangerous sport and you need to get up early in the morning and venture outside in frigid temperatures. Tennis is a bit more accessible. In the end I think I made the right choice.”
Vonn, who shares a sponsor with Sinner, said she has skied with the Italian and observed similarities between his skiing and tennis.
“He skis similarly to how he plays tennis; he is fluid, smooth, and makes it look easy,” Vonn said. “His knees and hips are always parallel and he is always in balance.”
Vonn said many alpine skiers use tennis as part of their offseason training because it develops footwork, athleticism and decision-making under pressure.
Ruud, who also skied as a child, said he does not believe skiing alone explains Sinner’s movement, noting that Carlos Alcaraz also moves well without a skiing background.
Ruud said children benefit from participating in different sports because they develop a wide range of athletic skills.
Other players on the professional tour also credit childhood experience in other sports for helping their tennis careers.
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk practiced gymnastics until age 11 and continues to celebrate tournament victories with a backflip. She said gymnastics improved her tennis but also presented challenges, including strict weight control and injuries.
French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli played youth football with Italian club Roma before focusing on tennis. He said football helped develop his stamina and physical abilities.
Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic also grew up skiing in Serbia, where his father worked as a ski racer and instructor.
Sinner said skiing contributed to his ability to slide into shots on different court surfaces.
“It was always very natural,” Sinner said. “Maybe the skiing was a big part of (it) with the balance.”