Sinner, a pop phenomenon, Binaghi: "Your ratings are worthy of a national team. Now tennis is challenging football."

Bologna, July 15, 2025 – The sporting ecstasy, the Wimbledon final, and Sinner's triumph on free-to-air national television, can we say we're satisfied, Angelo Binaghi?

"No, not yet in terms of visibility on the small screen. The match was broadcast free-to-air on TV8 only by choice of the broadcaster, not by law. In Spain, for example, all fans were able to see their player (Alcaraz, ed.) free-to-air on the main channels since the semi-final."

The president of FITP (Italian Tennis and Padel Federation) and the fight for tennis 'for all', the sport that in recent years has climbed the popularity rankings – thanks largely to its results – and is now launching a real challenge to football.

So what is the way?

"We're far from reaching the minimum goal. We'll fight to ensure that these kids' results can be seen even by those who can't afford a pay-TV subscription. State television needs to step up, because the national football team is broadcast live on Rai channels and these kids aren't?"

Do you feel like tennis is catching up with soccer in popularity? Could it overtake soccer?

Football has been and remains the national sport for a hundred years; it's difficult to reverse a situation like that in a couple of seasons. I'm an engineer, and I like to think about the data: in terms of results (meaning victories, ed. ), we're ahead right now. And the players? For every five people who play tennis or padel, there are six who play football or five-a-side football. As for Italians' passion, I'd say that when the Davis Cup is broadcast on Rai, the ratings are very similar to those of football. If we make comparisons, the acceleration is there; you just have to look at it from which side you look at it.

The driving force behind this success are champions. Sinner in particular has achieved something that seemed impossible. How do you see people embracing the sport?

"Seeing Jannik lift that trophy was an incredible feeling. At first, it seemed like just a dream, one of those things you thought impossible, but instead it became a resounding success for our region, which, among other things, will host the Davis Cup finals in Bologna next November."

Sinner brought us two Salad Bowls and now four Grand Slam trophies. A little over a month ago he practically lost a title at Roland Garros to Alcaraz, and at Wimbledon he got his revenge. How do you think he does it?

I confess I was terrified on match point. But Sinner defies the logic of us mere mortals; he's a phenomenon, and if there's one area where he's even more so, it's the mental aspect. There's no explanation other than that he's simply an extraordinary guy, blessed with innate gifts and a talent that's been well-cultivated and nurtured.

And what are his best qualities?

“He's incredibly intelligent, he's had an extraordinary education, and his daily work is his strength, his mantra. His tennis is like a religious doctrine.”

You have repeatedly expressed the need to protect such young athletes. How can this be achieved?

"They're kids, and as such, they should be left alone. They play at a very high pace for 25 weeks a year, and then sometimes they have trouble taking holidays because they have to do public relations. We need to understand that they need recreation and free time to grow up healthy and free to become champions."