Behind Jannik’s work is Riccardo Ceccarelli, sports doctor and founder of Formula Medicine, who has been developing mental preparation programs for high-performance athletes and professionals for over 30 years
The first match after a major disappointment is often a mental challenge even before a technical one. The elimination in the second round, which came after the illness suffered against Juan Manuel Cerundolo when he was ahead by two sets and a break, represents one of the most complicated moments of his season. And it is precisely in a situation like this that one of the less visible but most important aspects of the path that brought the blue to the top of world tennis comes into play: the training of the mind. Behind this work is Riccardo Ceccarelli, sports doctor and founder of Formula Medicine, the center in Capezzano Pianore which has been developing mental preparation programs for high-performance athletes and professionals for over thirty years. The link with Formula 1 is direct: even before tennis, the method was applied to drivers. From Ayrton Senna to Fernando Alonso, from Charles Leclerc to Max Verstappen, many motorsport champions have worked with the Tuscan structure. Sinner approached Ceccarelli at a very young age, driven by a curiosity that he himself has recounted several times: understanding how his own brain works. Since then the relationship has never been interrupted, even in the frequent changes that affected the rest of his staff. The reason is simple: the work is not focused on the result, but on the processes that allow the athlete to deal with pressure, difficulties and unexpected events.
mental gym
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Formula Medicine’s so-called “mental gym” bears little resemblance to the traditional image of mental coaching. There are no motivational sessions or long conversations. The heart of the method is represented by computer exercises, simulators and software initially developed for the racing world. Through joysticks, screens and specific programs, the athlete is subjected to situations that reproduce conditions of increasing stress: multiple stimuli, distractions, rapid decision-making requests, sudden changes of scenery. The goal is to observe how the brain reacts under pressure. During the sessions, various physiological and cognitive parameters are monitored: heart rate, activation level, reaction times, ability to maintain attention and quality of decisions. A sort of mental telemetry that closely recalls that used in Formula 1 to analyze the behavior of the car and the driver. From these data comes the key concept of the Ceccarelli method: self-awareness. Know your mental mechanisms, recognize the signs of tension in advance and learn to manage them before they influence performance. In other words, transform the mind from an unpredictable element to a trainable factor.
the toy car
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Sinner’s work is predominantly done remotely. Darren Cahill explained how the exercises are integrated into the daily programming, with more intense moments of discussion during the off-season or in the most delicate moments of the year. It is continuous preparation, built over time, which does not look for shortcuts but accumulates tools to use when needed. The operation is simple: Jannik wears a band with sensors which must record every reaction which will then be analysed. The “game” involves the simulation of an F1 race, with a circuit on which there are four cars, one of which is Sinner’s. The more Jannik manages not to be distracted by what appears on the screen, the faster the car goes. The concept is to train concentration, because with a clean mind the car goes fast. The other cars, the numbers, the race, they are all distractions that you have to isolate yourself from. The concept, in practice, is that you win if you don’t get involved in the race. Kind of like going into meditation while in a distracting environment.
continuity
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In recent months these tools have contributed to supporting an extraordinary continuity. The series of five consecutive Masters 1000s won between Paris-Bercy, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid was not just a demonstration of technical superiority. It was also confirmation of a rare ability to maintain the same level of attention and performance for weeks, regardless of surface and context. A significant example was also seen in Rome. In the semi-final against Daniil Medvedev, in an environment full of expectations and pressure, Sinner went through a complex phase of the match without losing clarity. It is a principle that Ceccarelli summarizes in the so-called “climber theory”. Anyone who climbs a mountain cannot continually think about the summit. He must concentrate on the next step. Looking too far ahead risks losing balance; staying in the present instead allows you to continue climbing. This will be one of the keys to leaving Paris behind. The challenge is not only about physical recovery after the illness that affected the French tournament but the ability to quickly put aside an unexpected disappointment and start again. Ultimately, it’s the same lesson that Ceccarelli has learned over decades of working with drivers: a wrong turn can compromise a race, but it must not influence the next one. To continue winning, you need to look ahead without distractions.
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