ATP CUP

January 4, 2022

Vincenzo Santopadre

Matteo Berrettini

Jannik Sinner

Team Italy

Press Conference

BERRETTINI-SINNER/Martin-Roger-Vasselin

6-3, 6-7, 10-8

Team Italy - 3

Team France - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congrats to team Italy. Vincenzo, as the captain what were you most proud of today?

VINCENZO SANTOPADRE: Of course of the result. No, I'm joking.

I'm proud because these guys, they did their best. They were really good on court. And I am really happy about doubles because it was their first time together and I thought a lot of interesting things. So I'm really happy about this and I'm really happy about, of course, the whole team, not only players, Lorenzo, Fabio, Simone, and them, but about the guys that usually they work with them.

Q. Matteo, of course the first time you two played together. I'm just curious how much did you sort of talk about like the doubles aspect and the strategy and all of that? And then also, even though this one wasn't a live match, meaning the deciding doubles, how much were you thinking that you could be playing together again in a match that decides a tie?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: I mean, yesterday we practiced together for the first time some doubles, and I think in a way it takes time to play like the best way possible.

At the same time, I think we are good tennis players, so we don't need a lot of time, you know? Today I think we showed it and it was really, I think it was a really high-level doubles and we stepped on the court and we said that we would play like it was 1-1, you know, because it was really important for us to win this match and now we have to wait obviously for the next result for the next tie. But it was really important to win this doubles. So in our mind it was 1-0, but knowing that we both won the singles, so we were feeling a lot of confidence.

Q. Jannik, your first time at the ATP Cup. Now that you've had a couple of matches, what's the whole experience been like for you?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, for me it's obviously great to be part of this group. Everyone is an incredible player and of course the captain as well.

For me the team spirit is always great to be part of and obviously happy too that I won the two singles. But obviously now we have to think and to hope that Russia is going to beat Australia so we have a little chance.

Obviously today doubles for me was a great experience. So it's all about experience and hopefully it's the first time of many.

Q. Just about the doubles, you played some doubles throughout the year, but just how much, Matteo said that it doesn't take as much time necessarily to get used to it, but what do you think about playing in doubles? How much do you think about the strategy?

JANNIK SINNER: Of course I think it's more about having a good confidence with your partner. I think we have a good confidence. Of course, we have to know us a little bit better.

But he has an unbelievable serve, which makes for me a little bit easier to stay on the net. I try to return fast, which today we showed. But, yeah, of course it takes a little bit of time, but everyone has his own weapons and today we used them.