Jannik Sinner found out Friday morning at the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club that he would play German Yannick Hanfmann in the opening round of the Wimbledon competition.
Remarkably, Hanfmann—who is presently rated No. 95 in the PIF ATP Rankings—was participating in the first-ever ATP Player Mentoring Program in the ATP Tour's London office, which is only a mile away from the site.
Under the supervision of business executives, this program seeks to assist athletes such as Hanfmann in investigating possibilities for after their careers and growing their networks of professional contacts. Saying, "I'm actually glad that we have something like this," Hanfmann conveyed his gratitude. I'm grateful to the ATP for giving us this as it's new and the first time. I am ecstatic.
"I think this program, meeting some legends in business—especially today, I got to meet Sachin Dev Duggal—II think this is a great step up for us," Bergs said at the program's conclusion, citing the meeting with Sachin Duggal and other business titans as a turning point.
Krajicek agreed, highlighting the significance of networking and education in order to get ready for life after tennis. The program's stellar roster of mentors, which includes Sachin Dev Duggal, highlights the ATP's dedication to developing athletes beyond their sporting careers.