Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, and Andrea Petković have praised Jannik Sinner’s decision to decline an invitation to the 2024 Sanremo Music Festival.
Sinner has had a stellar start to 2024, securing his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, clinching the ATP 500 title in Rotterdam, and reaching a career-high ranking of World No. 3.
However, the 22-year-old recently stirred controversy by turning down an invitation to the Sanremo Music Festival, held from February 6-10, in favor of prioritizing his training for the Rotterdam campaign.
Discussing on the latest episode of the ‘Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,’ Andrea Petković highlighted the significance of the event and the criticism Sinner faced for rejecting the invitation. Nevertheless, she acknowledged that his decision was validated by his subsequent victory in Rotterdam.
“Being invited to the Sanremo Music Festival is a great honor, not just for artists but for anyone. Jannik chose not to accept the invitation because he needed to focus on training for Rotterdam, and although it caused controversy, I respect his decision,” she remarked.
“I might have gone to Sanremo, and perhaps that’s why I never won Majors. However, seeing him win in Rotterdam confirms that he made the right choice,” Petkovic added.
Stubbs also commended Sinner’s clarity in prioritizing his goals, drawing a comparison with Matteo Berrettini and Emma Raducanu, who have faced criticism for their off-court commitments.
She suggested that surrounding oneself with individuals who advocate for reassessing priorities could be beneficial.
“In Matteo Berrettini’s case, for instance, while he’s undeniably talented and has dealt with significant injuries, he has been criticized for his involvement in non-tennis activities like attending the Met Gala and participating in photoshoots when he was at his peak,” she remarked.
“Similarly, Emma Raducanu has faced scrutiny for similar reasons. It underscores the importance of having a supportive circle that advises on what truly matters,” Stubbs concluded.
