World No. 1 and reigning Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has successfully booked his place in the semi-finals, but not before delivering a clear message to BBC interviewer Clare Balding: no football talk allowed. Following his straight-sets quarter-final victory over Jan-Lennard Struff, the Italian star was quick to shut down any discussion of the sport, a stance likely influenced by Italy’s absence from this year’s World Cup.

Sinner’s on-air interjection

The exchange, reported by Express.co.uk, occurred during a live interview on the BBC. As Balding attempted to steer the conversation towards other sports, Sinner interjected with a firm, “Don’t talk about football, thank you.” Balding had initially remarked, “You’re right. You’re absolutely right. Unless it’s about football. That’s big too,” prompting Sinner’s swift and direct response, “Don’t talk about football.”

Sinner, a four-time Major champion, showcased his laser-like focus on the task at hand – Wimbledon. His refusal to engage in football discussions underscored his dedication to tennis, a sport he clearly cherishes not only as a player but also as a fan.

A dedicated tennis fan

Despite his elite status, Sinner revealed he closely follows other matches at the tournament. “I like to watch. I am a big tennis fan and also part-time tennis player! But no, I think it’s nice. I like to watch. Also, because here, you switch on the TV, it’s only about Wimbledon,” he explained, highlighting his immersion in the All England Club atmosphere.

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Sinner also took time to praise British wildcard Arthur Fery, the world No. 114, who faces fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli, the ninth seed, in Wednesday’s quarter-final. “We know that [the crowd is behind Fery], we accept it. But he had an amazing win, huh? We were watching yesterday, it was nice. Tough one for Grigor, but it’s a nice story,” Sinner commented, acknowledging Fery’s journey to the quarter-finals.

The world No. 1 also expressed his support for his compatriots, including Cobolli and Jasmine Paolini, who is also competing at Wimbledon. “I know him quite well, of course, being Italian. He is a great character. I think also people love him because he is very, very authentic, and that’s just how he is, also back in the locker rooms,” Sinner said of Cobolli. “The more Italians we are, from an Italian point of view, the better it is. And there is also Paolini as well, so it is amazing to see, especially here in Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament we have, having three Italians fighting for it, it’s amazing.”

As Sinner continues his quest for a second consecutive Wimbledon title, his singular focus on tennis, even to the exclusion of other popular sports, remains evident.

Sources: www.express.co.uk

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