NITTO ATP FINALS

November 18, 2021

Jannik Sinner

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/J. Sinner

6-0, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Unlucky with the defeat tonight, but you played so well. What was it like to play in front of your home crowd here in Turin?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, the first set obviously I was a little bit nervous. There were moments where he was not missing any ball, and I tried to find a solution somehow.

Then after, I took a little bit more time, trying to understand how to play against him. Then I found a solution.

Obviously a little bit were some moments where I was a little bit unlucky, but, you know, he's No. 2 in the world and he played an unbelievable match today also. I tried my best, and obviously with the atmosphere here helped me a lot.

I think it was a great match. Obviously it was not the way I want to end it, but I think I can be proud after the first set like this. I found a solution, which was the best thing I could do. Yeah, that's it.

Q. Well done, despite the losses. How would you compare the experience of playing the ATP World Tour Finals to the NextGen Finals? Will this appearance be an encouragement for you for the upcoming season?

JANNIK SINNER: It was very, very nice and I'm very pleased and honored to play here, especially Turin, home crowds. Of course it was not the way I wanted to enter in the tournament, because, you know, I was 9 in the race. Basically one out.

But I think I took my chance. I tried my best. It was a very, very great experience. I liked playing with the home crowd on home soil.

I played well in NextGen. I played well here. I mean, I lost against the No. 2 in the world, so here are the best players of the season. Of course it can give me a lot of confidence for the next year in one way. In the other way, I know that I have still to improve many, many things. Now we have time to do that, especially physically. We will see next year what's coming. Yeah, that's it.

Q. How would you compare the two events, NextGen versus World Tour Finals?

JANNIK SINNER: I think both are incredible events. Obviously if you play here, in Turin, it's much bigger. The crowd is bigger. You play against the best players in the world.

Under 21, you play against these guys, but usually the best eight are going to be the next gen, so, I mean, it's I think a great event. Really, the organization is good. You feel home there, I have to say, because I played two years ago and it was an unbelievable feeling.

Yeah, I think these are both very, very incredible and insane events.

Q. You just mentioned that in the offseason you want to work a lot physically. I'm curious, what other things are a priority for you to work on the most in terms of your game?

JANNIK SINNER: Everything. I mean, of course physically but also tennis-wise. Serve, for sure. After 20 years, you can only improve. I'm very looking forward to it, because I think it's a great time to maybe change something, as well.

I mean, I'm working hard also during the year, during the events, so I just want to improve and then we see what's coming out in the next year. Yeah, it's going to be hard but it's going to be fun.

Q. You finished last year big, and then you did really well this year. I'm wondering at the beginning of the season, did you think you were going to be able to do this well this year?

JANNIK SINNER: It's tough. I mean, I'm not seeing the future, so it was great year, for sure, a lot of highlights and playing especially here, it was a great feeling.

I grow as a player but also as a person, which for me is very important, and I think it was a great season. If somebody expect it or not, I don't know, but for sure, you know, when you are -- I think I started the year 37 or so, or 47, I don't remember, and finishing top 10, it's great for me. It's a big pleasure to be part of these incredible players.

In the other way, I know the way what I have to improve. My team knows that, as well. It's going to be interesting also next year, but I don't want to rush. That's for me the main goal, not rushing. I'm 20. Next year I'm 21. There are still many, many years hopefully that I can play on this level.