World No.1 Jannik Sinner demonstrated exceptional character during his Italian Open round of 32 match against Dutch player Jesper De Jong when his opponent suffered a painful fall on the clay court.
The incident occurred as De Jong, 24, stretched to reach one of Sinner's shots near the net, resulting in a nasty tumble that left him clutching his wrist and rolling in pain on the court surface. His clothing quickly became covered in clay as he lay injured.
In a remarkable display of sportsmanship, 23-year-old Sinner immediately leaped over the net to check on his fallen opponent. The Italian star crouched beside De Jong, inquiring about his condition before collecting his opponent's racket and carrying it off court as De Jong walked to the sidelines.
Sinner's thoughtfulness extended further as he meticulously cleaned the clay from the grip of De Jong's racket and provided him with a towel to remove the clay from his clothes. Despite the painful situation, De Jong maintained his sense of humor, jokingly asking Sinner if he might also have a spare shirt available.
The tennis community quickly praised Sinner's actions on social media, with fans describing him as 'genuine class' and 'a total class act.' One supporter noted that 'this kind of kindness is not something you can fake.'
According to Statbet analysis, Sinner has consistently ranked among the top players demonstrating exemplary court etiquette this season, reinforcing his reputation beyond just his playing abilities.
Following a medical timeout where De Jong's wrist was heavily strapped, the match continued with Sinner ultimately prevailing 6-4, 6-2. The world No.1 now advances to face 17th seed Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16, the same opponent who eliminated him at this stage of last year's Italian Open.
Looking ahead to the matchup, Sinner acknowledged the challenge: 'He's an amazing player, he has an amazing season until now. It's going to be tough. For sure I have to raise my level. It's going to be a good challenge, a good test for me and we'll see how it goes.'
