CITI OPEN

August 5, 2021

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/S. Korda

7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you think the key was to the match?

JANNIK SINNER: You know, obviously it has been a tough match, because, you know, we never practiced together. We never played match, so it was kind of new for both of us.

Very similar game style, so, you know, that what I think trying to, like the last time, trying to sticking to my game plan, trying to serve well in the important moments, you know, trying to have a good balance on court, which I think today was okay.

You know, just kind of sad when 7-6, 7-6, not so many points of difference because, you know, you have to play in the best way the important points, and I think today that helped me.

Q. Looking at the numbers from today's match, you won 73% of your first-serve points. You also won 68% of your second-serve return points. How important was it to play first-strike tennis against Sebastian, and what did you do to be the aggressor in the majority of rallies?

JANNIK SINNER: As I said, I think we both in the beginning we didn't play well. I don't know if from TV you saw, but there was a little bit of wind. So, you know, in the beginning there was one side with the sun, which is from here the matches start at 2:00. From 2:00 until 2:20, :25 you have to face straight in the sun, so it's not easy to serve from that side.

What I tried to do, you know, mix up a little bit the game from the returns, especially the second returns. That helped me, trying to give him a little bit of different ball immediately from the first ball he hits.

Yeah, and the rest, you know, I think everyone saw what happened. But, you know, in the beginning we didn't play well, because, as I said, we didn't know each other obviously. You know, I prepared a little bit the match, which is a little bit similar to Ruusuvuori. Maybe, you know, he's a little bit changing a lot more down the lines, so that gives you a little bit different ball, but I tried to staying to my game plan, which is 85% of the match, and the rest, you know, trying to adapt.

Q. The turnaround in the second set, you came back from I believe 5-2 down, ultimately able to capture that set. What flipped in your game that allowed you to turn that set around?

JANNIK SINNER: When you're down 5-2, double break, you try to -- he was playing better that moments. I tried to find a solution as soon as possible.

Even maybe if we go in the third set, I tried already something, which I think from the return side, from the right side, from the deuce side, I changed a little bit something, and 5-2 is, you know, everyone thinks it's easy, but it's not that easy to close it out.

There is a little bit of pressure. When I made the break, for me it was important to let him serve out on 5-4. If he's serving well, okay, that's it, but if not, trying to play a lot of balls in the court.

When I was 5-3 and I was serving, I was tight, as well. I made two double faults. Then fortunately I served well. I kept his pressure on him, trying to close it out for his side, and so I think that today was the key of the second set.