Jannik Sinner is not often one to complain, but when asked about his least favorite part of his career as a professional athlete, he didn’t stutter.
Speaking to the press after advancing into the fourth round of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, the world No. 2 (only half-jokingly) teased that the highs of life on tour are only somewhat tempered by the media obligations that come with it:
Q. Jannik, you have to really love the tour life to continue doing it and enjoy most aspects of it, but I’m wondering if there is something about being in professional tennis that you really dislike?
JANNIK SINNER: Dislike?
Q. Yeah.
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, press conference (smiling), answering always the same questions.
I mean, it’s not dislike. It’s just part of the job, you know. I like to get out, play, and then live, you know.
But for me, I think we have a beautiful life, you know. We see so many great places. Obviously doing over and over every year, you know, you always go to the same places, so you know already before what kind of places you like a little bit more and some what you like slightly less.
I think we have a very nice, very nice life, very safe life also, in a way, of having great people around. I’m in a position, a very fortunate position, that I can travel with many people also, you know. Here I have a couple of friends, and it helps me so much.
So I don’t really have something what I dislike. I think it’s more just all around, you know, I’m doing this kind of here, media, I’m not the kind of guy who likes it. You know, I don’t want and I don’t need to show.
Q. The attention doesn’t align with your personality very well?
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, kind of. For me, I like playing tennis, you know, and I like to spend time with the people I love and also sharing nice moments with the team. This is how I am, you know.
In addition to family and close friends, Sinner can rely on a strong fan base to help support him through tough matches, though the Italian has largely cruised in Tennis Paradise thus far. Yet to drop a set in the desert, the former world No. 1 eased into the Round of 16 after a 6-2, 6-3 win over Denis Shapovalov.
That could change in as he bids for a return to the quarterfinals, awaiting the winner of an intriguing third-round clash between No. 23 seed Tommy Paul and Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.