A former friend of who once beat the tennis star, has died in a car crash which injured a family of five. Tobias Tappeiner, from San Paolo, northern Italy, died at the age of 24 following the tragic accident on Sunday morning.

The accident unfolded on the A22 motorway in northern Italy after Tappeiner, who was a passionate tennis player and a coach at the local tennis club in Bolzano, drove the wrong way onto the motorway. He entered the southbound carriageway in the wrong direction and crashed into a minivan carrying a family from Varna, South Tyrol, who were heading to the seaside for a holiday. It remains unclear why he did so, as he is said to have been familiar with the Bolzano south junction, with investigations underway.

The mother and father in the other vehicle were rushed to hospitals in Bressanone and Trento, respectively, in serious condition but are reported to have survived, along with their children, aged 8, 11, and 14, who were airlifted to emergency services in Bolzano. The tennis world is now mourning the death of Tappeiner, who faced US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner several times in their younger days.

Sinner, who was a year younger, was in fact defeated by Tappeiner in a 2014 under-12s tournament in Bressanone with a score of 7-6, 6-3. The pair were still friends off the court despite their rivalry and went on trips together representing the Bolzano team, with several photos on social media showing them together since childhood.

Stefan Laimer, the sports director of Tennis Club Bolzano, said: "Smiling and kind. I remember Tobi like this. On the court, however, he transformed: he was a lion. He never gave up a ball. To beat him, you had to have something more, otherwise in the end he managed to prevail with his determination."

He added: "We are close to the family and the pain they must feel at losing a son. My son is the same age and they grew up together in tennis. We cannot imagine the pain at this moment."

Plopp, one of the main tennis clubs in South Tyrol, also wrote on Instagram: "Tobias played for TC Bolzano in series B1 and taught at his father Martin's TAP tennis school. We are deeply dismayed and offer our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew Tobias.

"Our thoughts are also with the family that was seriously injured in this tragic accident. We wish all the injured, particularly the children, a swift and full recovery. Rest in peace, Tobias. We will remember you as a passionate athlete and a cordial person."