Sinner: the driving force of tennis

SINNER Almost fifty years have passed since Panatta was number 4 in world tennis, according to a ranking based on a computerized calculation system, and introduced in 1973. Now our Panatta of the generation Z is called Jannik Sinner, belonging to a "blue avalanche" comparable to that, in skiing, of the Thoeni and Tomba. It's nice to think that he is a great guy who is the driving force behind an entire competitive movement. LEADERS

BIRAGHI Cristiano Biraghi is the captain of Fiorentina. He brings to mind the young people with long hair, who saved hundreds of works of art during the flood in the 1960s. It's edifying to see an overpaid professional roll up his sleeves and clean up Campi Bisenzio as a volunteer. Nothing heroic, of course, but civil and ethical, which does honor to this pillar of the Viola's defense. First the social commitment, and then the training. GENEROUS

BEACH SOCCER Are we a country of footballers? I would say yes, even on the sand. The Italian national team won the third European beach soccer title, leading a rapidly growing discipline, with a Serie A of 17 teams. Once again we beat Spain, while on the planet, for a change, the Brazilians dominate, having 5 world titles to their credit. They won the first edition in Copacabana in 1995, with talents on the pitch like Zico. JUGGLERS

CORVETTO Sport can transform an area of Milan. Passion, vision and enthusiasm are the ingredients of the Corvetto Street Basket Academy, a social inclusion project created by 2 dads in love with basketball. They managed to involve children between 8 and 14 years old in the neighborhood of the same name on the outskirts of Milan, in front of the pitches emptied by the pandemic: Vincenzo Belluomo and Giovanni Venegoni. ENTHUSIASTS

CORVINOHe is the longest-serving sporting director in football. From Vernole, the town of his birth, to Scorrano, up to Casarano. A story of clubs that today, with Fiorentina and Lecce, the greatest career goals, choose players on behalf of investment funds. Presidents once built authentic working family groups. Today they should go to Coverciano, like the coaches, to learn their trade. ARTISAN

FAUSTBALL In Bolzano the only group of athletes who practice this sport resists: a kind of volleyball played on grass. At the European Championships, the team, which also represents the Italian national team, came fourth, while Germany was world champion. It is played 5 against 5, on a pitch measuring 20 by 50 metres. The difficulty in covering the large surface is compensated by the fact that you also dribble after rebounds, in the passes between one man and another. INVENTORS

DOWN Italy with Down syndrome is the Italian basketball team that always wins. Coach Giuliano Bufacchi's boys, already reigning world champions, also won the European championships: sixth title in 6 years of international competitions. They beat Finland in the final, in Padua, 32-18. They are the true Dream team, using a typical expression of US basketball, with 3 World Cups and 3 European Championships, undefeated since 2021. INVINCIBLE


Carlo Nesti
NP December 2023