Amid anti-Italian allegations, Jannik Sinner declared that he is “proud” to be an Italian and “happy” to be born in Italy and not in Austria. Sinner was born in Innichen, in South Tyrol, an autonomous region in Italy where the majority of the people speak German. Sinner grew up speaking German.
South Tyrol is situated in the northernmost part of Italy and borders Austria’s Tyrol. Due to its location and the region’s history, many from the Italian tennis community are questioning how truly Italian he is in the aftermath of his announcement of Davis Cup Finals withdrawal.
He said he had already made the decision to skip the Davis Cup Finals before the season. Sinner led Italy to two Davis Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, winning every match he played.
At present, the four-time Grand Slam champion lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Because he moved to The Principality, the secretary of the Italian-based workers’ union FIOM-CGIL, Barbara Tibaldi, said Sinner should prove his loyalty to his country by moving back to Italy and paying taxes. Tibaldi told Realpolitik:
Sinner is the product of a culture that was built in this country due to the irresponsibility of many families and entrepreneurs. So if you’re proud to be Italian, you contribute to the good of your country. And you’re proud to pay taxes in Italy.
Sinner is back in Italy. He is in Turin for the ATP Finals, which is scheduled to start on November 9. Last year, the 24-year-old defeated Taylor Fritz in the final.