At a time when the tennis world seems too quick to celebrate and even quicker to forget, Jannik Sinner proved that loyalty and respect are not outdated values. During a post-practice press conference ahead of the upcoming 2025 US OPEN, the South Tyrolean champion surprised everyone by interrupting the official schedule to address, visibly emotional, a topic that had been tormenting him for days: the barrage of unfair criticism directed at Jasmine Paolini.
“ Enough, I respect her too much to remain silent, ” Sinner declared, his voice firm but filled with indignation. “Stop dragging her through the mud: she has earned our respect .” A simple yet powerful statement that immediately resonated with fans and colleagues, going viral on social media within hours with the hashtag #IoStoConJasmine.
In recent months, Jasmine Paolini had suffered a decline in performance, which, as often happens in the world of top-level sports, was accompanied by an avalanche of criticism. Some sponsors were quick to distance themselves, while some in the public cruelly labeled her a “failure,” too quickly forgetting the achievements that led her to become one of the most beloved and respected Italian tennis players.
But for Sinner, who knows the weight of expectations and media pressure well, the situation had become unbearable. His stance is not just a gesture of friendship, but a cry for responsibility, a call to the world of sport to rediscover humanity and gratitude.
A gesture that stirred consciences
A few hours after Sinner’s words, official profiles of tennis tournaments and organizations shared messages of support for Jasmine. Some sponsors, previously silent, publicly announced their intention to renew their trust in the Tuscan champion. But the most touching gesture came from hundreds of Italian and international fans, who organized a spontaneous campaign: letters of support, videos, drawings, and affectionate posts are flooding the tennis player’s social media profiles.
Jasmine, visibly moved, responded in a short note:
“Thank you to those who believed in me even when I myself couldn’t do it anymore. And thanks to Jannik… his words gave me the strength to start again.”
The value of loyalty
What seemed like a simple emotional outburst turned into something more: a collective reflection on how easy it is to destroy, and how courageous it is to defend. In an era where sport seems dominated by numbers and immediate performances, Sinner reminded everyone that true greatness is also measured by the ability to remain human.
And who knows, maybe the world of sport really needed this: a moment of truth, born not from a trophy, but from a gesture of friendship and respect.