Warm Welcome Surprises: Jannik Sinner's Apology Warms Up Kimi Antonelli's Arrival in Indian Wells
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Jannik Sinner’s Indian Wells triumph on Sunday, 15 March, became a celebration of Italian sport beyond tennis after the world number one used his victory speech to praise Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Sinner defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final to continue his dominant run on hard courts, but the 24-year-old used the spotlight to acknowledge another historic Italian moment happening the same weekend. Antonelli, the teenage Mercedes driver, had just claimed his first Formula 1 Grand Prix victory after starting from pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The win marked a breakthrough for the highly rated youngster and a rare moment of Italian success in the last two decades of Formula 1. Jannik Sinner praises Kimi Antonelli after Indian Wells win Photo by JADE GAO / AFP via Getty Images Speaking shortly after winning the Indian Wells title, Sinner surprised the crowd by shifting attention away from tennis and towards his countryman driver. “It hasn’t do anything with Tennis, but it was a special day for Italy because I’m a huge Formula 1 fan, and having a very young Italian, Kimi, bringing Italy back home on the top is amazing.
So, thanks, Kimi. Thanks, Formula 1,” the world number two stated. Sinner’s tribute did not end there.
After the broadcast interview, he also wrote “Grande Kimi” on the TV camera lens, directly congratulating Antonelli following the Chinese Grand Prix victory. The gesture quickly spread across social media as fans realised the tennis star had used his own moment to celebrate another Italian success. Fans praise Sinner’s gesture as ‘pure class’ The moment sparked an enthusiastic response online, with many fans praising Sinner for recognising Antonelli’s achievement while celebrating his own title.
“Pure class from Sinner this,” one fan wrote on X. Another pointed out the extra detail of the message on camera: “This was sweet. He even wrote ‘Grande Kimi’ on the broadcast cam after his own win today.