Racket diaries, the podcast with Max Giusti and Stefano Meloccaro reveals the background on the Sinner phenomenon

Max Giusti and Stefano Meloccaro present “The Racket Diaries”

The long wave of Jannik Sinner's consecutive successes, at the Australian Open and the Rotterdam tournament, catalyzes media attention and opens the field to “The Racket Diaries”, the talk entirely dedicated to tennis and its “white gestures”. To animate it, two top names from the world of entertainment and sport: Max Giustiwhich manages, among other things, “Play Pisana”, the Roman tennis academy open without distinction to all racket lovers (Luciano Darderi, the new promise of Italian tennis, has also passed through there), and Stefano Meloccaroappreciated journalist for Sky Sport.

Against the background of a locker room, where the last racket used by Adriano Panatta is on display, the voices of Max Giusti and Stefano Meloccaro chase each other, as if they were a tennis ball bouncing from one side of the net to the other in a continuous dribble, amidst curious anecdotes, revelations and repeated jokes.

Max Giusti, in particular, remembers his first time on a tennis court. «Mine was a late vocation. When I was a kid, tennis was considered a rich, sectarian sport, played mostly in private clubs by the dentist's son. And it is also for this reason that the club I manage is open to everyone without the need to be members. The philosophy that governs it is to give everything the kids need both to have fun and to try to become champions”.

A tennis court that is also a training ground for life, where Max Giusti teaches kids the right attitude on the court at a delicate moment in their adolescence. “It's not easy for 12-year-olds to play away from home with the pressure of bringing home a point, while your friends are having fun in the backyard. The tennis player runs over her. To maintain a tennis player today he must be at least in the top 200 positions of the ATP ranking. But occupying that position does not guarantee him a living at the end of his career”.

Max Giusti on Gustavo Kuerten

During the chat Max Giusti names his all-time champion. A completely unexpected choice. “If I have to name a name, I'll say Gustavo Kuerten. Seeing a champion like him playing through pain every day moved me.”and outlines the parable described by Sinner, from his first steps to his consecration as number 3 in the world ranking.

Racket diaries, Max Giusti and that phone call announcing the Jannik Sinner phenomenon

«I heard Sinner's name for the first time when Jannik was only 12 and a half years old. One Saturday afternoon I received a phone call from Alex Vittur, one of my best friends ever, who was around the 500th ATP position, and who was part of that litter of talents with Vagnozzi and Seppi, all trained by Sartori in Caldara. Alex tells me “I just played with a 12 year old boy. His parents brought him to me to dribble. He is truly the strongest I have ever seen. I almost try to follow him.” They started playing once every two weeks on the two indoor courts at the Halle in Brunico.” From there the Sinner phenomenon was born.

Racket diaries, Jannik Sinner and the key to success

«Jannik is an extraordinary phenomenon. “Thanks to my parents who never put pressure on me and who always made me do what I wanted to do” the words that Sinner uttered during the Australian Open awards ceremony should be a mantra to be placed at the entrance of all tennis schools . This makes the difference. No parent or coach can ever put into a child's head the desire to dedicate his entire life to a sport. They can help him, protect him, encourage him to follow a certain path, but they cannot force him.”

Racket diaries, the values ​​of sport according to Max Giusti

«Sport always leaves something good when you do it. It's always nice when you find other kids who share your interests. We recently celebrated a birthday at my place at the club. All the kids from the school aged between 17 and 19 were there. All kids I saw growing up. Seeing them grow up beautiful, clean, healthy among healthy values ​​is truly a great thing.” «For them you are a bit like Pope Pius VII» adds Stefano Meloccaro with a smile.