The goal is there, distant but not too much. It's called football. Armed with various rackets - tennis, padel and pickleball, you name the balls - the engineer sets out to conquer the national record. The rest – the world number 1, the men's and women's (world) cup, the “Finals” in Italy – is already in the showcase of his office. An incredible, but planned rise. From Cagliari, the Tennis club of Monte Urpinu, to the national and, why not, world throne: «In Paris, as soon as Sinner became number one in the world, I also thought of saying to everyone "goodbye and thank you", my task could be considered concluded at the best time." And instead? "The work isn't done yet."

Angelo Binaghi has just run from his home, Cagliari, Amsicora area, to the sea and back. He will turn 64 in a few days, he has also spent the last 24 in Rome, Italian Tennis Federation, with a "p", that of the padel tank, to make up the exact acronym. He leads a sport – which has become popular – at its peak of growth, a rocket that continues to rise. He appears untouchable, the criticisms are ferocious – dictatorship, difficult character, choices he doesn't like – but he doesn't seem worried.

Binaghi, aren't you growing up a bit too much?

«We are a typical company suffering from too much growth. And it's bad, because in certain sectors - first padel and now tennis thanks to Sinner - we proceed too quickly, all of this does not allow the federal structure to adapt. And also to the mentality of our 4 thousand companies to move at the same speed. These are processes that, in all economic sectors, to be healthy and express their potential, should go slower. But how do you suggest Sinner win less?".

Going back, would you be president of Fitp again?

"I would say yes. Very, very tiring, even too much. Very few remember the situation we found as soon as we entered. From an economic, moral and sporting point of view there was rubble. When you run a company they taught me that the difference between what you leave and what you found is worth it. Today we are at the peak of our sport, an unrepeatable moment and the data also says so: we have the number 1 and number 7 in the world, no nation has this combination, while in the "race", i.e. the ranking with the results of the This calendar year, we show up at Wimbledon and the Olympics with numbers 1 in the men's singles and doubles, the women's doubles is number 2 and Paolini is in fifth place. As a team, we have Davis in hand and second place in the King Cup. The other federations envy us not so much Sinner, but the rest of the

blues who are there, high in the world rankings."

How important is the "Federbinaghi" in this extraordinary moment?

«The approach that counts is that of a sports club like the Cagliari Tennis Club, whose model we have exported, a club open to the public that promotes sport on a daily basis, with instructors who attend compulsory schools to spread this sport among children, educating them on correct lifestyles and which at the same time carries out a very important function in the city for the growth of our young people - as well as Alghero, Olbia and Torres in Sassari - with a high-level competitive school, where they are educated to respect the rules and the opponent and are pushed to try to improve themselves every day. And at the same time - creating new jobs - it uses the facility to organize large sporting events which have a great impact on the local economic system and make Cagliari and Sardinia known throughout the world. This is the model in which I was born and which we try to spread in the 4 thousand Italian tennis clubs. The other federations, the big foreign newspapers, the most important TVs in the world ask us about this Sardinia model, what the secret is: it is what I experienced as a boy and on the basis of which I and a group of friends managed the Federation" .

Good things: Italy arrives at Wimbledon as favorites in the men's singles and doubles. But doesn't it seem like a dream to you?

«Yes, something we would never have imagined even in the best of times».

Bad things: thousands of complaints about prices and organization at the Foro Italico.

«The organization has always been held up as an example worldwide and it is precisely thanks to this that they entrusted us with the ATP Finals. The other is called the Robin Hood operation: charging "a lot" to those who choose to come to watch tennis only at the last moment if the spectacle is worth it, and charging "a little" to those who, as members and authentic enthusiasts, buy the ticket many months before and will always be there. And with that money from those who paid "a lot" we also manage to send our instructors to all the compulsory schools to teach tennis style for free to kids who would otherwise never approach our sports. There will be over 600 thousand this year, they will attend cycles of fifteen lessons, partly within our clubs, with the final competition. Tennis and padel. And we will invest further in this direction."

Good things: a player appears every week, does the Sinner effect stimulate the desire to emulate in the minds of the other Azzurri?

«Yes, the girls led the way in this. Before Schiavone won in Paris or Pennetta the US Open, or the Fed Cup, it was said that tennis was not a sport suitable for Italians. Well, today I would say that those words make you smile."

Bad things: playing tennis or padel costs too much, you have to join and for this reason the number of members is growing dramatically...

«In every sport you have to register, as far as I know, in our country it costs a few euros a year. Does tennis cost a lot? False, the latest statistics put us in line with football or gyms. If you are a gifted kid, the Federation helps you from 11, 12 years old to travel the world and do tournaments. I would add that here there is a huge number of people who play and are not yet members and who we will soon count. Tennis must be sold to sponsors and public administrations for what it's worth: this year we will exceed one million members. And from January 1st sports clubs no longer pay to carry out activities, both for teams and tournaments, we wanted this to begin to transfer part of this "well-being" created by central management to our popular shareholders, the sports clubs".

The Finals in Italy, the Internationals that double, the goals of the individuals, the padel that seems unstoppable, how do you manage a historic passage like this?

«A complex management, as I said. Before we had ten employees, today there are 240, I see new ones every day in the corridors. We even had to buy a new headquarters in Rome, where we are gradually moving. It is managed by jumping through hoops and defending our athletes from those who would like to appropriate their results for personal advantages."

At the party for Sinner's return, in Sesto, she was in a corner, with a smile that is rarely seen on her. What is your relationship with him?

«In Italy we have always been unlucky in tennis. Without ever having great champions, or perhaps great examples. Even in other sports, see Tomba or Rossi, we have enjoyed those figures even if tinged by some intemperance or extravagance. And in tennis, without naming names, there have been stars with a bizarre temperament. The real Sinner phenomenon is this: a minute after winning a Slam, or perhaps losing a final, in front of the microphone he gives a lesson to the whole world on how to behave, as only a great communication expert could do. I have always told everyone what I think of him, from President Mattarella down to the smallest local newspaper."

A day as president. What time does it start?

"It never ends".

We enter the football field, she is a Cagliari fan. How do you judge the separation between the club and Ranieri? How could such a delicate issue be handled?

«Ranieri would have deserved prospects that he didn't see. In professional football, money counts and little else. And with all the respect I have for the good Giulini and for what he manages to do, if we had found ourselves faced with an Arab or Chinese property - and with this I don't mean to say that it is a good thing - with a team approach perhaps to the Champions League, I think the coach would have had different thoughts. But Ranieri, more than what he has done with this team, I think is impossible. That's a bit of what I thought the moment after Sinner became first in the world: to leave at that moment, no one would have done better than me. But I already have my "Arabs", that is, another five years of Finals in Italy until 2030, and I must be able to achieve this: I have the Government that has seen the numbers and believes in them. And I will win, I will take them, also to let Sinner play the most important indoor tournament of the year at his home. Giving the Federation a long-term perspective from a sporting and economic point of view."

You "manage" a coach like Volandri, polite, elegant, calm people. Would you get along with someone like Spalletti?

"No. I really appreciate positive and reserved managers and coaches, who do not make controversies and who do not seek visibility to be the protagonists. I understand that we will get along well just from the way I see them walk, I like understatement."

Let's go back to tennis: for very talented young people who need to go around and play, there is the obstacle of expenses. Does the Federation help families?

«Yes, if you are a boy who achieves excellent results, we are at your side and we don't make you miss anything you need to become a champion».

He's rubbing his hands because there are already some names floating around on the horizon, let's say you're already planning the post-Sinner…

«The problem, apart from luck, is to ensure that the system continues to grow, in values, in enthusiasm, in its base. We are living through an important generation, it's true, but we must not stop. There is such abundance that I didn't know Darderi until he won an ATP 250 tournament in Argentina."

He stays away from social media: what is your opinion on this irresistible desire to show off and communicate anything?

«I almost don't know what social media is. But they have changed the world, I think even for the worse. For example, political life, today there is an intolerable exasperation in tone, the selection of the political class has worsened, as has the quality, also due to the weight we give to social media."

Will he run to become president of CONI?

«Why, what did I do that was so serious?».

Two or three dreams, which then become goals in your area for the immediate future?

«Give stability to my Federation. And launch pickleball, ten million practitioners in the United States, reduced costs and therefore the possibility of playing in schools and parks. I believe it".

Enrico Pilia

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