Sometimes sports can be cruel. After so many victories, today came the bitterest moment for Jannik Sinner: defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final. A match at a very high level, fought point by point, in which the Italian champion had more than one chance to close the score. He failed to do so. And now the weight of what could have been remains. “Sports gives you a lot, but sometimes it takes you away,” Sinner said at the press conference, visibly tired. "Today (yesterday, ed.) I experienced the sad side. But crying doesn't help. Now I just need to go back to my family, take some time for myself. Then, slowly, it goes up again". The South Tyrolean does not hide the disappointment, but still tries to find the bright side: "I am satisfied with my performance, it was a very high level match, the ball was traveling fast, the atmosphere was beautiful also for the audience. As long as you are on the court, you always believe you can do it, and you try to take advantage of every point. Later, when it all ends, it hurts. It's hard to accept that, but that's sports". Sinner reflects on the wasted match points, but does not want to let regret engulf him: "Carlos is No. 2 in the world, the best player on clay right now. He's someone who can change the game in an instant. I had so many chances, but I couldn't take advantage of them. It hurts, no use denying it". In telling his story, Jannik also opens a window on his private life, away from the spotlight: "I go home to my family, which is very simple. My father was not here today, he had to work. Success does not change everything in a family. Now I'm the one who wants to take something from them, get back to nourishing myself with normalcy. My mother was there, my father followed me on TV and finished his shift. These are things that keep you grounded". Sinner's journey, however, remains extraordinary. Eight consecutive finals, three Slam finals in a row. The numbers speak for themselves, but today they seem not to be enough consolation: "If I said I'm happy just for making it to the finals, that wouldn't be sincere. Losing like that hurts so much". Yet at his most difficult moment, Sinner does not let go. He looks ahead with the determination of one who does not want to go astray: "I need some time, I want to be with my family, then it's on again. So is the path: either you follow it or you get lost. And I'm not one to get lost. We'll see about playing some matches on grass before Wimbledon". Finally, he returns with his mind to the most complex period of his career: the three-month stop. "Those were hard times, which only I and the people next to me really know. We have the knowledge of what happened, but it was not easy. When you come back after such a period, you want to win, you want to prove something. So losing like that hurts even more". But Sinner is not letting it get him down. With his usual strength, he looks to the future. And he knows that, again, he will be able to rise again.