His difficult couple of weeks on court notwithstanding, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner has ditched the tennis racquet for the microphone to release his first duet in collaboration with Italian compatriot and revered tenor, Andrea Bocelli.
Titled ‘Polvere e Gloria’, translated as Dust And Glory, the song has the 23-year-old Sinner repeat sequences of his winning and losing speeches, which he recorded at Bocelli’s studio in Tuscany. The visuals of the track include scenes from the recording session at Bocelli’s as well as archival images from the duo’s childhoods.
Comprising both Italian and English lyrics, the song is being described as a “musical dialogue between two Italian icons”, mixing storytelling and the tenor’s opera.
“I am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea, who for 30 years has been a unique and extraordinary voice, a flag for our country in the rest of the world,” Sinner said.
“I could never have imagined hearing my voice in one of his songs. It’s extremely moving,” he added of the song that exhibits the distinct journeys of the two Italians to the top of their respective professions.
Blind since a football incident when he was 12, the 66-year-old Bocelli has forayed into sport before.
For former England striker Gary Lineker’s final Match of the Day show on the BBC in May, Bocelli recorded a special goodbye message and sang “Con Te Partiro” to close the show. Additionally, he stood with former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri at the King Power Stadium, performing “Nessun Dorma” as the Foxes celebrated their 2015/16 Premier League title win.
Meanwhile, Sinner is coming off a shock R16 defeat to Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik at the Halle Open, the grass-court event where he was the reigning champion.
Sinner, who lost to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in an epic French Open final earlier this month, said the early defeat offered him a good chance to rest and reset for Wimbledon, beginning June 30.
“I have to accept what happened. I’m now going to have a few days rest before Wimbledon, which are going to do me good” said Sinner.
“Honestly a little break is going to do me good,” the 23-year-old told Sky Italia.
“I came here (to Halle), I gave it my all after the Roland Garros defeat, it wasn’t easy,” he added.
