Carlos Alcaraz, who has been nursing an injury for more than a month, was recently targeted for his life beyond the court by none other than the Italian Tennis Federation President Angelo Binaghi.
In March, multiple reports emerged about the Spaniard’s hefty purchase of a custom Ultima 88. The luxurious yacht is being designed in partnership with Sunreef Yachts and is estimated to cost around €10 million. Before the French Open final, Binaghi launched a jibe at Alcaraz for his expensive acquisition and declared that World No. 1 Italian Jannik Sinner would never do so.
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He cited Sinner’s recent act of resilience in the second round of Roland Garros. Despite suffering from cramps in the unrelenting heat of Paris, Sinner continued instead of quitting. Despite his valiant effort, he suffered a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 defeat against Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. According to Binaghi, Sinner sent a powerful message and set an example of hard work, unlike Carlos Alcaraz.
“It all starts with example. Sinner choosing to stay on the court, to try until the very end, without complaining about his condition. But when have we ever seen anything like that before? We admired foreign champions who did it, instead. As a former player, I belong to a generation of tennis players who sent the message that you had to be bold and bold, a little lazy, because you were successful anyway.”
“Now we have a champion, fallen from the sky, who is leading the movement with the example of hard work. Can I say it? Unlike Alcaraz, Jannik will never buy himself a six-million-euro yacht. I’m sure of it, and I don’t think I’ll be proven wrong,” Binaghi said to Corriere Della Serra.
The Italian Tennis Federation President’s remark about Carlos Alcaraz’s personal life drew flak on social media. Fans voiced their discontent with Binaghi’s statement and even called it “disgraceful” as a user wrote on X:
“It’s disgraceful that Binaghi, as president of the Italian Tennis Federation, feels entitled to comment on Alcaraz’s private life. I can’t imagine other presidents saying this, yet the ATP president continues to be friends and give platform to Binaghi who repeatedly acts his way.”
“Omfg the audacity?????? how is this not a punishable offense, commenting on a player’s personal life should be strictly off limits for the head of a country’s tennis federation,” a user said.
“Genuinely disgusting. all this righteousness from binaghi is ridiculous when his golden boy doesn’t even live in italy, and prefers to live in the tax haven that is monaco,| another user added.
“This is triggering me so bad i need these f****g italians to never speak about carlos ever again,” a user added.
“They can’t speak on Carlos’ tennis, so they speak about his… *check notes* yacht? what the f*** does it have to do with ANYTHING?” a user remarked.
“The jealousy in this man’s heart omg. Pretty laughable that he thinks anyone cares about his opinion. Carlitos keep on doing you,” a user stated.
“I’m not one for conspiracies, but between this and the latest Ferrero interview to an Italian publication, which by his own admission had the ATP’s involvement, I’m starting to suspect bigger forces at play against Carlos,” a user explained.
Angelo Binaghi taunts Carlos Alcaraz while praising Jannik Sinner
This isn’t the first time Angelo Binaghi has passed a barb on Carlos Alcaraz. In January last year, Jannik Sinner successfully defended his title at the Australian Open. In the aftermath of the Italian’s win, Binaghi announced that Sinner is “much stronger” than the 22-year-old Spaniard.
“It’s very clear now, we are the strongest nation in the world. We are number 1. I always thought that Sinner was in perspective much stronger than Carlos Alcaraz and that his real rival would be Zverev, very fearsome on fast surfaces,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. (translated from Italian)
His comment once again ignited criticism of fans, who accused Binaghi of being incapable of praising Sinner without degrading the Spaniard. Returning to the tennis front, Carlos Alcaraz will miss Wimbledon just like the French Open due to the wrist injury he sustained in Barcelona.
Edited by Shyam Kamal
