After triumphing at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 tournament, Jannik Sinner paid tribute to Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first Formula 1 victory, which had come only a few hours before his own success.
“Great job Kimi!!”. This could easily have been a message sent by any Formula 1 fan to the young Mercedes driver who managed to win his first Grand Prix yesterday. Instead, what in terms of length might resemble a simple WhatsApp message was written on the lens of a television camera with a red marker, held by another young athlete who had just won nothing less than Indian Wells, one of the most prestigious Masters 1000 tournaments on the ATP tennis circuit.
We are talking about Jannik Sinner, another outstanding figure in Italian sport, both for the results he continues to achieve on the court and for the example he has provided so far to younger generations—and not only—through his behavior and professionalism.
After pointing to the heart on his pink polo shirt with an intense expression, Sinner’s face finally relaxed as the tension faded away. He greeted his strong rival Daniil Medvedev and then also saluted Andrea Kimi Antonelli. It was a very beautiful dedication from the Italian champion, one that soon found an unexpected continuation.
During the on-court interview that took place immediately after he received the prestigious trophy awarded to the winner of Indian Wells, Sinner wanted to dedicate a few words to his friend from Bologna, who only hours earlier had managed to win the Chinese Grand Prix—his first career victory in Formula 1.
“Today has been a special day for Italy, because… I’m a big fan of Formula 1, and having such a young Italian driver, Kimi, who has brought Italy back to the top in Formula 1 is fantastic!”
“So thank you, thank you Kimi! Thank you Formula 1, and see you next year!”
This is a historic moment in its own right, because Antonelli has brought Italy back to winning in Formula 1 after a 20-year wait. The last Italian victory dates back to 2006, when Giancarlo Fisichella won the Malaysian Grand Prix. Meanwhile, Sinner himself has already collected an impressive list of achievements, including Masters titles, two ATP Finals trophies, and two Davis Cup victories with the Italian national team.
Two outstanding talents who know each other and respect one another. Within just a few hours, they achieved exceptional victories—one in China and the other in Indian Wells. Two parallel paths that could still bring Italy many more moments of pride and celebration in the future.
For now, Sunday, March 15, 2026, enters the record books as one of the most glorious days in recent history—not only for tennis, not only for motorsport, but for Italian sport as a whole.
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