US OPEN

September 6, 2021

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/J. Sinner

6-4, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on the match.

JANNIK SINNER: Well, it was not easy. He served well. It was not easy to return his serve, and, you know, I think we both are a little bit tight in the first set.

Yeah, I mean, I think we both raised the level a little bit in the third set. We had more rallies. We were a little bit more used to the conditions, but it was not easy because it was the light and shadow, which is not easy for us tennis players to play. But, you know, I had chances in every set, especially in the third set I tried to close it out but I couldn't.

But, you know, it's not easy playing against him. Has confidence. As I said, he serves well. You know, when someone is serving well, you know, the return game, you can try a little bit. I think he fully deserved to win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You mentioned Sascha's serve. Is it something he's doing differently that maybe when he wasn't in quite as good form, is everything during his winning streak coming from how well he served?

JANNIK SINNER: I think, yes. As I said, you know, he's in confidence now. Winning Olympics, winning Cincinnati, and now here he's playing well, so I think he's serving well. Physically he's good. I have to say he's very fast on court as well, recovering the balls.

I think that what he has improved is, yeah, is the serve. But everything, you know, also when he had the year where he didn't play his best tennis, but he ended up in top 10, you know, which is not easy, as well.

He always got to the Masters event in the end of the year. So, you know, he's a very, very solid player. Here he's not easy to beat.

Q. Obviously you're disappointed today, how would you evaluate how you played here in New York?

JANNIK SINNER: Today or...

Q. Your tournament on the whole.

JANNIK SINNER: The whole tournament? Well, I think the first rounds, the first two rounds were not easy, because I had maybe more pressure, you know. I had to win the matches. I had to find a solution. Then after, with Gael I think it was a great match from both sides.

Today was a little bit, you know, was different because, you know, was more mentally than all the rest. But I think I can be proud of the week I played, the tournament I played.

Obviously a lot of things to improve still, so, you know, now I go back, maybe take a little bit time off. I have been here in U.S. quite long, and I'm trying to be ready for the rest of the season.

Q. What are the positives you took from this year and this tournament? You came so close. You could have won that set, and you got the crowd in your favor. And also your work with Piatti, can you talk a little bit about it, your coach.

JANNIK SINNER: We are working hard every day with a goal in our head. Obviously it's trying to improve day after day, and what I'm trying to do is give 100% in good days, bad days. Sometimes I feel well on court, sometimes you don't, but it's always important to give 100%.

Me, when I was 16, I didn't knew what I wanted to do. I mean, obviously I decided to, that I want to be a tennis player, but, you know, I think now it's a little bit different. I know how good I can play tennis, and, you know, so the mindset is a little bit different.

Apart the tournaments of Toronto, the rest, you know, I always was there. I had in every match my chances to win. I lost, but it's a process. I'm 20, and I'm proud in a position where I am, I have to say.

In the other way obviously you want more and more, but it's important also to don't rush. For that, you have to be calm and have a great team around you, which Piatti has a lot of experience, in every single part, from physical and mental, so I have to say I'm quite happy.