On November 8, 2019, Gianni Clerici titled an article in Repubblica: “The Predestined Sinner: never seen an Italian so strong.” Jannik, a fresh eighteen-year-old, had just defeated Frances Tiafoe and Mikael Ymer during the Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan. Gianni had a sharp eye, indeed! “We have never seen a more gifted Italian tennis player, and I can say that myself, having met Nicola Pietrangeli at sixteen on a court in the old Parioli.”

Jump ahead to July 13, 2025, and that young boy has just lifted the legendary Wimbledon trophy, beating Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz 3 sets to 1 in a breathtaking final. After the dust settled, while Jannik was enjoying the crowd’s applause and greeting friends and family, the emotional voices of Paolo Bertolucci and Elena Pero from the Sky Sport commentary box shared with listeners a heartfelt tribute to Gianni Clerici—and more:

We would have loved for people like Mario Belardinelli and also our friends Rino Tommasi, Gianni Clerici, Lea Pericoli, Roberto Lombardi—those who have seen and loved this sport—to have had the chance to witness a scene like this. And this chance was given to us by this boy. And this chance was given to us by this boy.