From “national case” he hero of Made in Italy: the (misappropriation) of Sinner

From Meloni on down, the political race to make the number 1 in tennis "ours". The controversies over Saremo and the residence in Monte Carlo have already been forgotten

ROME – Sinner was still on the court, in the third set against Dimitrov, who Italy had already called. He was unconscious, while the race to misappropriate the champion had started on social media. Italian pride. The excellence of Made in Italy, as if it were a ham. Sports institutions or not, from Meloni on down, from Appendino to Urso, all a personal frenzy over the attribution of his merit, but ultimately yes, “ours”.

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And then, obviously, the Prime Minister: “First Italian in history to reach the top of the world rankings. Congratulations Champion!”. Then the Minister of Sport, Abodi: “You are our pride, because it is wonderful that you have arrived, step by step, at first place in the world rankings: with talent, commitment and the desire to always improve, but also with the naturalness, sincerity, simplicity and feelings of special people. Well beyond number 1!”. Followed by all the sector ceremonial: Malagò, Binaghi, fellow tennis players, fellow champions, aspiring colleagues.

At a certain point, however, the “big” Italian traffic dropped on the internet. First in the sprint was the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida with “Simply number one. You are in history, Jannik”. Then the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Santanché. With a mannerist masterpiece:

Santanché’s tweet is perfect in its own way. Because to preemptively attack “those who speak badly of Italy”, quotes a headline from the Gazzetta dello Sport. The very newspaper that last autumn launched an imprudent press campaign against the “national case” Sinner, who had allowed himself to skip a Davis shift to train. From that moment Sinner would win the Davis Cup, reach the final of the ATP Finals, win his first Slam in Australia and climb the world rankings. Santanché is a champion, so she adds a Dadaist touch: “record number of tourists”, “you can breathe new air”. Too bad the traffic was blocked by the winner’s floats on the motorway.

It’s a destiny that Sinner doesn’t escape. Indeed, he dominates with the patience of a savvy Christian Democrat. Every time an Italian journalist fatally reminds him of the magic – his, ours – of being Italian, he cashes in and smiles. Probably because he appreciates the tenderness of the redundant topic. He is amazed at our amazement, after years in which Sinner, currently a good compatriot, the pride of a people made in his image and presumed likeness, was instead described as a cold creature from Alto Adige. Then resident (obviously arsonist and tax evader) in Monaco. Today it is even more “the Italy we like”.

We have already forgiven ourselves for returning home after the Australian Slam, whenthe second question in the press conference was – fixedly – “will you go to Sanremo?”. With astonished foreign journalists, with that somewhat similar expression they have when you explain to them that Genoa – for us – is only the province of the Festival. He said no. That he had to train. As for Davis. Mindful of the previous fool, they avoided throwing a new “national case” in his face.

Sinner that time was unable to free himself from the institutional tour with Binaghi bodyguard. First Meloni with photos, then the press, followed by the Quirinale. A way of the cross. Now, luckily for him, he is still on the board in Paris. The supranationality of the champion is at stake, despite his passport as “our” by ius sanguinis. While we in Italy hang out the tricolor like clothes in the alleys of common places.