Jannik Sinner of Italy returns the ball to Tommy Haas of Germany during the quarterfinal exhibition match at the Steffi Graf Stadium in Berlin on Monday. (Getty Images)
Jannik Sinner defeated Fabio Fognini 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the Round of 32 of the Italian Open in Rome
Jannik Sinner wrote ‘Forza Milan‘ on a live television camera moments after winning the Italian derby against Inter fan Fabio Fognini at the Internazionali d’Italia in Rome. The 20-year-old beat his compatriot 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, qualifying for the Round of 16 in Rome. Sinner upset Fognini twice as he wrote ‘Forza Milan’ on a television camera after beating him. Sinner is a Rossoneri fan, while Fognini supports Inter.
However, after the match, Sinner admitted that he remember Fognini as an Inter Milan fan. “I apologized to him for writing Forza Milan, I had forgotten his football faith. It was nothing personal. I instinctively wrote it, but then I felt guilty. I apologized and we joked about it”, said Sinner in the post match press conference.
10th seed Jannik Sinner is now scheduled to face Filip Krajinovic in the Round of 16 of the tournament.
AC Milan fans on Twitter are understandably elated about Sinner’s gesture. There seems to be a massive growth in Sinner’s fanbase overnight after the youngster openly expressed his support for Milan.
“Sinner is too good guy and very sensitive. He thought, after the defeat of Fognini and Inter, that it was out of place to write Forza Milan. Although for me, it is never out of place to write Forza Milan”, tweeted an over-whelmed Milan fan.
Another fan wrote, “Forza Milan, Jannik. You have been very strong with your tennis tonight here in Victoria Falls. We are all with you and with Milan.”
“Nothing but love”, tweeted another fan, evidently elated by Sinner’s gesture.
“Following him immediately”, wrote another Milan fan.
“I will support @janniksin from now on. Forza Jannik!”, tweeted another fan, echoing similar sentiments.
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