When visiting a high-profile tennis event, you can’t help but notice the Carota Boys. This team of six men is known for their full-body, bright-orange carrot costumes. But even before laying eyes on them, you will probably hear them. These vibrant 20-somethings are fervently supporting world No. 4 Jannik Sinner, who also hails from northern Italy. Over the past seven months, the Carota Boys’ affection for Sinner has captured the hearts of the tennis world. “They are more famous than I am, to be honest,” Sinner told reporters during last month’s ATP Tour Finals in Turin, where his small but committed carrot-clad army cheered him on.
The six childhood friends from the northwest Italian town of Revello – Lorenzo Ferrato, Francesco Gaboardi, Gianluca Bertorello, Enrico Ponsi, Alessandro Dedominici, and Alberto Mondino – conceived the idea of the Carota Boys as a way to celebrate each other’s birthdays by buying tickets for tennis tournaments. They decided to purchase carrot costumes to celebrate this year’s Italian Open in Rome. Sinner’s association with carrots initially took place when he ate one during a tennis tournament in Vienna, Austria four years ago. The association between the carrots and the tennis star’s orange hair fuelled the idea. The costumes gained immense popularity, allowing the group to travel to Wimbledon, the US Open, and the ATP Tour Finals to fervently support their favorite player.
The Carota Boys formed an unbreakable bond with Sinner, culminating in the opportunity to meet and play tennis with him during the ATP Tour Finals. “Jannik and all the Carota Boys are born in a place near the mountains. He loves skiing; for us, it’s the same. He loves family and friends and our team, the Carota Boys, it’s about the friendship that we have.” Ferrato remarks.
After gaining a massive following on their Instagram account and creating their line of merchandise, the group is now contemplating the upcoming year. They have day jobs and need to take time off work for travel, but they aspire to make their fan club larger and louder. They are hopeful that their efforts might lead to founding a global fan club for Sinner, similar to what MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has.
Since Jannik Sinner is only 22 years old and has had a successful year with multiple ATP Tour titles, expectations are at an all-time high for the 2024 season. The Carota Boys are eagerly looking forward to continuously supporting their favorite, hoping to celebrate his first major title with even more enthusiasm.
Sinner’s progression into one of the toughest opponents on the ATP Tour has garnered praise from the likes of Novak Djokovic. The Serb characterizes Sinner as “the future of our sport” due to his immense talent and all-around playing ability. Because of this, the Carota Boys are daring to hope for even greater achievements for Sinner and anticipate that he will win a grand slam in the near future.
In contrast to the traditional belief that making predictions brings bad luck, the Carota Boys, remain hopeful that the upcoming year might witness Sinner’s rise to triumph by claiming his first major title. Such a victory would undoubtedly lead to their most extravagant and celebratory displays yet.
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.
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