Italy, once better known for its dominance in football, food, and fashion, is now experiencing a golden age in tennis. With nine men ranked inside the ATP’s top 100 and five inside the top 50, the country has never had greater depth. At the forefront is Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion, whose rise has transformed tennis into a national obsession. Veteran journalist Ubaldo Scanagatta describes Sinner as “already an idol” and the leading sportsman in Italy, with his every move now making front-page news.
This explosion of talent is no coincidence. Over the past decade, the Italian Tennis Federation has reshaped its development system, embracing private coaches and clubs while providing access to medical, nutritional, and strategic support through its national training center. The approach has nurtured stars such as Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, and Matteo Berrettini, and been bolstered by international expertise. Craig O’Shannessy, a former member of Novak Djokovic’s team, has worked with Italy since 2016, introducing data-driven coaching and tactical analysis that, he says, helped create “a tennis machine.”
The infrastructure now in place extends beyond coaching. Italy hosts more international tournaments than nearly any country, second only to Spain, ensuring that young players can compete at home while earning vital ranking points. With free access to matches through the federation-run SuperTennis channel and marquee events such as the Italian Open in Rome and the ATP Finals in Turin, the sport has become increasingly visible and accessible to fans. This ecosystem has propelled Italy to the forefront of world tennis despite not hosting a Grand Slam.
The results have been historic. Alongside Sinner’s success, Musetti, Lorenzo Sonego, and Flavio Cobolli all reached the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, while Jasmine Paolini emerged as a Grand Slam finalist and Olympic doubles gold medalist. Italy has also celebrated back-to-back Davis Cup titles and multiple doubles triumphs from veterans like Sara Errani. For Scanagatta, the momentum mirrors past waves of success seen in Sweden and Germany, where one champion inspired a generation.
Sinner remains the face of this tennis renaissance, adored at home for his humility as much as his explosive ball striking. Even a three-month doping ban earlier this year, ruled accidental, did little to damage his reputation. With Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz as his main rival, the stage is set for a defining era in men’s tennis. But regardless of individual outcomes, Italy’s long-term investment means its tennis “machine” is built to endure — a system designed to capitalize on the highs and withstand the lows.
