Jannik Sinner delivered a playful dig at his brother Mark after losing the Rome Masters final to Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.
The world No 1 couldn't resist highlighting his brother's absence from the stands, revealing he had chosen to attend Formula 1's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola instead of supporting him in the final.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, Sinner maintained good humour during his runner-up speech, showing his characteristic grace even after falling short in his bid to claim a first Masters title on home soil.
The tennis star was competing in his first tournament since winning the Australian Open in January, having faced a challenging three-month period.
Jannik Sinner was quick to point out his brother Mark wasn't in the stands
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The Italian had impressed on his route to the final, dropping just one set throughout the tournament.
Sunday's clash marked the first time in six months that Sinner had faced Alcaraz, with the world No 1 hoping to secure his fifth Masters 1000 title.
The match began competitively with Sinner narrowly losing the first set in a tie-break 7-5, before Alcaraz dominated the second set 6-1 to claim his first Rome crown.
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In his post-match comments, Sinner couldn't help but joke about his brother's absence.
"Special thanks to my brother, who, instead of being here, is in Imola watching Formula 1. He's watching the racing," he said with a smile.
The 23-year-old remained gracious in defeat, acknowledging the difficult period he had experienced. "I'd like to thank my team.
"There have been a few months that weren't easy. It's been a great result just to be here in the final."
Jannik Sinner was beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in the final
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He added: "We trained a lot. We can be proud of the results we achieved. We didn't win the final, but we are happy with this trophy."
Sinner also took time to celebrate the broader success of Italian tennis at the tournament.
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"It's been a great success since we came here. Paolini won singles and doubles with Errani," he noted, highlighting compatriot Jasmine Paolini's impressive achievement in claiming both the women's singles title and doubles crown alongside Sara Errani.
Jannik Sinner enjoyed his time playing on home soil.
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The world No. 1 acknowledged his own contribution to the Italian success story: "Lorenzo and I did our part on the men's side. Italians, we hope you're happy with this tournament."
He concluded his speech with appreciation for the home support, adding: "A lot of my friends are here."
