Monghini said she was drawn to Sinner’s elegance, his maturity and his dedication to hard work. “I spent five years in the mountains. I understand a bit what the type is like. They get straight to the point, don’t make a fuss, keep moving toward their goal,” she said.
Carlo Romeo, a historian of the region, called him a “symbol of Italian society’s multiculturalism.”
“Maybe decades ago he wouldn’t have been seen as properly Italian, as more Austrian. Today this identity is fully accepted,” he said.
Saint or Sinner?
For all the praise, Sinner isn’t without his critics.
Earlier in the year, writing in one of Italy’s leading papers, La Repubblica, journalist Corrado Augias labeled him a “reluctant Italian.” He pointed to Sinner’s decision to turn down an invitation to meet Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, pleading tiredness. Sinner has, however, met Meloni on multiple occasions to celebrate successes.
Then there’s his taxes. He may sport an Italian flag in his Instagram profile, but Sinner, already worth upwards of $30 million, is domiciled in the micro-state of Monaco, a magnet for the ultra-rich — including several tennis stars — seeking to reduce their tax burden. Sinner has claimed he feels at home there, but the multi-millionaire’s refusal to pay into Italy’s state coffers has irked some members of the commentariat.
