Attend a major tennis tournament and you’ll surely come across the Carota Boys, a group of six men donning eye-catching full-body carrot costumes. Their fervent support for world No. 4 Jannik Sinner, who hails from northern Italy like them, has not gone unnoticed.
Originating from the northwest Italian town of Revello, the childhood friends, whose names are Lorenzo Ferrato, Francesco Gaboardi, Gianluca Bertorello, Enrico Ponsi, Alessandro Dedominici, and Alberto Mondino, conceived the Carota Boys during their tradition of buying tickets to tennis tournaments each other’s birthdays and decided to buy carrot costumes to celebrate the occasion.
Their love for Sinner blossomed after they attended this year’s Italian Open in Rome, the same tournament where the idea was conceived. Their bright orange ensembles quickly became a hit, truly endearing themselves to the tennis public in the process.
Following their initial success in Rome, the Carota Boys found themselves attending the French Open in Paris, Wimbledon in London, and the US Open in New York. They also made a memorable appearance at the ATP Tour Finals in Turin, where they met and played tennis with Sinner.
The group has gained a large social media following and even created their own line of merchandise. They’re now considering expanding their fan club, hoping to attract more supporters to champion Sinner worldwide.
As Sinner’s most ardent and visible fans, the Carota Boys contribute to the boisterous cheers that have propelled their favorite player to his best season yet, with his recent triumph at the Davis Cup final with Italy.
Looking ahead, the group is optimistic that Sinner will make a breakthrough and secure his first grand slam title in the 2024 season, an event that would undoubtedly lead to the wildest, noisiest celebrations from the fans dressed as carrots. It’s worth noting that any predictions for Sinner are said to bring bad luck, according to Italian tradition.
For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.