ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2021

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/P. Herbert

6-1, 4-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Nice match.

JANNIK SINNER: Yes, you know, it was tough obviously, playing against Pierre. Obviously I started well, then second and third set he was serving well. I was struggling a little bit with how to return the serve, if I go to the court or if I stay back. Then at some point I handled the situation quite well, I have to say.

But, you know, it's not easy playing against him. We have met five sets, but the time was not quite long. There was not so much rhythm. I think today was not an easy match for me, but obviously I'm very happy.

Q. Can you explain when you're down 3-4, 1-2, Love-40, what was going through your head in order to stay in the match?

JANNIK SINNER: Trying to stick into there, trying to make him play some balls. Then I was lucky when I was 15-40, he returned well, and somehow I came to the ball, then he didn't smash the ball. Sometimes I felt like I was lucky today, obviously.

Down Love-40, then after 40-All, then still two more breakpoints, then the game after he had match point. I was always chasing a little bit at some points, but trying to stick into there, trying to somehow win the match.

I think today that was the key: trying to stay there mentally. I think at the end I can be proud of today.

Q. I have a question regarding night sessions because here is the very first night session in the history of the tournament today. I want to know, you as a player, when you're designated to play a night session, is it added pressure? Something you enjoy? Is it a special moment? Something you don't like? Is it hard to deal with? How do you feel about night sessions?

JANNIK SINNER: Honestly I didn't had so many night sessions. For me, I think for me is a little bit different. I am young player. For me the second time here, Roland Garros. So, you know, I think is better to ask other players, to be honest.

In one way for sure is great. One way is great to play night sessions. In other way you don't have crowd at the moment, which makes things a little bit I would not say difficult, but it's for sure different playing with or without crowds, which I think is better to play with crowd.

So, you know, but as I said, for me it's better to ask other players how they feel.

Q. What surface do you think is ultimately going to be your best surface? You probably played mostly on clay growing up.

JANNIK SINNER: A lot of tournaments are on hard courts. I like hard court indoors, to be honest, because I think you don't have some situations what you normally have. Maybe, you know, if you play outdoors, you have little bit of wind, little bit of sun. Things can change in the sky. Sometimes it's cloudy. All these kind of things.

I prefer to play indoors. I think I can play on every surface. I still have to understand how to play on them a little bit, especially on clay I think which helps me a lot trying some other things, trying to sometimes serve in different ways or even on the baseline points trying to mix up a little bit.

The other surface, grass, I don't have pretty much experience, to be honest. I'm very excited for this grass season, which is my first grass season. I mean, I played quallies Wimbledon. I played in Halle. I played in 's-Hertogenbosch. That's it.

I think there I still have to understand how to play.

Q. This is only your third five-set match, the first time you won a five-setter. Can you comment on that and how important something like that is for you at this early stage of your career.

JANNIK SINNER: Obviously when you are in another fifth set, you don't think how many you lost or how many you won. You just want to win today. I knew I lost 7-6 against Karen in U.S., then 6-4 in Australia this year. Here today I just tried to, yeah, somehow play my game, which I think today I ended well the match, when I was serving for the match.

He gave me a little help because I think he was still thinking about the fourth set. I tried to start strong the fifth set, which I make break immediately. I think that was the key to today's fifth set. Then after I tried to serve a little bit better, which on some games went well and some games not.

As I said every match is different. Today I'm happy that I won the first time, yeah, the fifth set.