“He really reminds me of Roger [Federer], to be honest.” Lindsey Vonn, the former skiing star and a lifelong tennis fan, was not lying when she saw a glimpse of the Swiss in Jannik Sinner earlier this year. But this is not the only reason Vonn admires the Italian. Way before Sinner became a tennis sensation, the reigning Wimbledon champion was a national-level professional skier. Speaking to ATPTour.com, Vonn shared that it was their shared passion for skiing that sparked a connection between them years ago.

“I always thought it was really special that he was a former ski racer, and that’s obviously where we connected,” Vonn told ATPTour.com. Even though Sinner chose tennis over skiing at 13, the two skied together once back in 2022. “I was actually pretty nervous skiing with him because I didn’t want to be the reason that something happened, and he got hurt. He’s very skilled and he’s a really elegant skier,” the Olympic gold medalist added. So, it was no surprise who the former skier would be rooting for during the recently concluded Wimbledon final.

Sinner, who was coming after a painful final loss to Alcaraz in Paris, won his first-ever SW19 and 4th Grand Slam title overall. Vonn, who has been cheering for the Italian for a long time, could not hold her emotions when congratulating her skier friend.

Taking to Instagram, the 40-year-old posted images of the pair skiing and training together, and captioned: “So proud of you, my friend! What a tournament for you and your team! From Sud Tirol to London… What a journey and it’s only just getting started!” Knowing how hard Alcaraz fought to defend his title, Vonn did not limit her praise to Sinner; the 40-year-old also heaped huge praise on the runner-up, Carlos Alcaraz. “Congratulations to @carlitosalcarazz as well. I can’t wait to see many more of these we finals in the future! We are lucky to witness this next generation of tennis!” she added.

In a year when the old guard has mostly stepped aside, the bond between these two athletes, one on snow, one on grass, serves as a reminder that greatness often finds kinship across disciplines. Their friendship, forged outside the spotlight, now moves alongside Sinner’s rising story.

Lindsey Vonn promises ski reunion with Jannik Sinner

Back in February 2025, as Sinner celebrated his second Australian Open title, Lindsey Vonn, who had just made a brief return to competition after a six-year absence, quietly made a promise. “I’m sure we’ll ski together again sooner or later,” she said, reflecting on their longstanding friendship. The words carried the simplicity of casual affection, but coming from an athlete of Vonn’s stature, they also conveyed something more enduring.

Vonn, 40, spoke with calm admiration about Sinner’s current focus, remarking that he is “very focused on tennis at this stage of his career and is winning a multitude of trophies.” They had recently missed each other on the slopes of Plan de Corones, a familiar place for both. While she acknowledged that “we both have other priorities now,” her confidence in a reunion on the mountain was unshaken. That promise now lingers, unfulfilled but quietly present, as Sinner continues to push the boundaries of his sport. The two champions, connected by a common origin in snow and slope, appear to be moving on parallel tracks, distinct yet destined to intersect once more.