Jannik Sinner has announced he is about to launch his own foundation and also debuted signature Nike clothing ahead of the 2024 ATP Finals.
Sinner discovered his draw for the ATP Finals on Thursday. He is in the same group as Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alex de Minaur. Medvedev is a former champion, and Fritz reached the semifinal in his sole previous appearance, meaning coming out of the group will be challenging for Sinner.
The Italian will also be competing at the prestigious tournament still under a cloud after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the decision to clear him in his doping case. It wants a ban of between one and two years implemented.
Novak Djokovic's former coach, Goran Ivanisevic, recently spoke in support of Sinner and hopes the 23-year-old does not receive a ban. The Croatian remembers dealing with WADA officials and feels they try to ruin people's lives.
However, that uncertain situation has not stopped Sinner from trying to do good off the court. That is evidenced by the news of his intention to start a Foundation.
The world No. 1 told reporters at the ATP Finals that the foundation will be launched to support those in need. But Sinner did not want to give any precise details until the foundation is officially announced at a later date.
"I’m about to launch a foundation, I don’t want to say anything specific until it’s official. Every player has a slightly different vision of how to help people, animals, nature, etc. But it’s a very important point for those in our position."
Sinner's foundation could be wide-ranging if he intends to support people, animals, and nature. He may have just been listing possible things that could be supported, and the foundation might be more specific in its focus.
The 23-year-old will join legendary figures like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal, who all have their own foundations. It sounds like more details about the project will come out in the coming weeks.
The two-time Grand Slam champion's increased global influence was demonstrated by the customized gear Nike has provided him with ahead of the ATP Finals that start on Sunday.
One of the items is a hat with a fox logo. That is Sinner's signature logo, based on his being nicknamed the fox during his school years. The name has stuck, and he continues to use it.
Nike also gave Sinner a jacket with "001" written on the back to recognize his position at No. 1. The Italian secured the year-end No. 1 ranking several weeks ago.
The third piece of gear is a pair of shoes with "Jannik" written on them, and the last item is a shirt with a fox on it and "001" written on it once again alongside Nike's signature tick logo.
Sinner debuting those clothes indicates a long-term partnership between the US Open champion and Nike. The company has done signature items for many athletes across different sports.