Jannik Sinner has not dropped a set this week en route to the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International 1. But Kyle Edmund and Thanasi Kokkinakis have not been his only opponents.
The Italian on Wednesday enjoyed a battle of Now Gen against Past Gen at the ATP 250 event, where he hit with 99-year-old Henry Young, who on 11 January will compete in Melbourne against 98-year-old Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi in the Battle of the Centurions, part of the Tennis Plays For Peace charity event.
“It’s obviously my pleasure. Seeing a man 99 years old playing incredible tennis, having such strength and willpower to stay on the court — yesterday was also hot — for me was a real pleasure,” Sinner told ATPTour.com. “I know he’s [playing] a very important match raising money in Melbourne, so it’s my pleasure obviously to play with him.
“I wish him all the best not only in the tennis court, but off court, which is most important. It was a lot of fun.”
Special moment to hit with Henry today, 99 years old and #1 in the world! Henry is playing against 98 year old Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi on Rod Laver Arena next week to raise money for people in Ukraine. Both are an inspiration to us all! Good luck 💪🏼#ClashOfTheCenturions pic.twitter.com/91FUz1JX80
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) January 4, 2023
Sinner added that Young told him he took up the sport aged 70.
“It’s very nice seeing people also a little bit older age trying some new things,” Sinner said. “He was hitting very well to be honest. The high balls, which are usually very tough, for him were very, very easy. He doesn’t seem 99 years old. He was moving great, he had a lot of fun hopefully and I wish him all the best.”
The Italian will continue his tournament on Friday when he faces American Sebastian Korda for a place in the last eight.
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