DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 22, 2022

Jannik Sinner

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

J. SINNER/A. Davidovich Fokina

4-6, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Great escape for you. How did you pull it off, saving the three match points?

JANNIK SINNER: I just was trying to stay focused on the present because obviously the match was very, very close. He was one point away. I just tried.

I was lucky also a little bit because the first match point he played out which was not so far. But then I think the rest I played quite well.

In the third set I felt more comfortable and I raised the level.

Q. Can you give us any insight about the new coach Vagnozzi?

JANNIK SINNER: It is early to talk about this, but we are working very hard. The quality is very high. We are working also on some new things. But obviously I need time. We need time. Every one of us on the team needs time to understand each other a little bit.

It's exciting. It's something different. So let's see how it goes, yeah, then we'll see.

Q. I wanted to ask you about your new coach also. He seems much younger than Piatti. Was that the reason for the change? Did you want to go with someone younger?

JANNIK SINNER: No, that's not the reason, no. As I always said, I had seven wonderful years with Riccardo Piatti and his team all together. Yeah, that's it.

But there are no specifics reason. It's all good. Obviously I try to stay focus about the tournament.

Q. Your next match is against Andy Murray. Can you give us some thoughts on that.

JANNIK SINNER: I lost the last one in Stockholm. It's going to be very difficult for me. Everyone knows how big he is as a champion. Obviously he's a big fighter. It's going to be tough.

I'm expecting a very tough match tomorrow, so I try to be ready for a long match.

Q. You haven't played since Australia. I believe you had COVID. Did you have symptoms? Are you feeling any aftereffects from it?

JANNIK SINNER: I had some symptoms, but not strong ones. It was not like that I was not moving. I was in the house and I wanted to practice but I couldn't. This was a little bit the thing.

But now I'm here. I'm recovered. I feel good. Also today the match was long, but I feel okay. This is important.

Q. Obviously you're young relatively and COVID has taken up these two years. Based on your entire experience as a pro, how often are there Italian media on tour that you get to talk to? Are you much more comfortable in Italian than English or do you feel equally good in both?

JANNIK SINNER: Honestly for me it's okay everything. I've been on tour now around three years maybe, something like this. It's not that I'm making incredibly so much interviews and all the things.

It's okay. If you prefer in English, I do it in English. If not, in Italian. German also. The rest I cannot speak (smiling).

Q. You've been touted quite some time now as one for the future. We just had the Museum of the Future open tonight in Dubai. Now that you've been on tour for a couple of years, how are you looking towards targets? Do you think you're on track?

JANNIK SINNER: I think the track is long. There are different words between rankings. You have to reach the level to get there. This is what I'm trying to do. I know my potential, that I can play good tennis if I feel well. But you have to play one whole year consistently. So this is the difference.

Honestly I know that I have so many things to improve that I know. Hopefully I will improve because this for me is the most important. Then we see.

But I know that I can play some good tennis but knowing also I have to improve many things. Let's see.

Q. As a former junior skier, did you follow the Winter Olympics at all? Did you find any standout performances for you?

JANNIK SINNER: I didn't had so many chances. I've watched some highlights obviously, but I didn't had the chance to see it live because it was always in the night or early morning so I didn't have the chance. It's always nice.

Many, many Italians have done so great. Also some south Tyrolean guys where I'm from have done great.

Yeah, I think Olympics is something special.

Q. You had interactions with Maria Sharapova in the past because of Riccardo Piatti. What stood out to you the most when you met Maria and spent some time with her? What are some things you picked up from her?

JANNIK SINNER: Of course, the mentality. She had an incredible mindset. I was lucky to got to know her a little bit more.

We practice also a couple of times together on court. She is a very special person I think. And what she has done for the sport is also great.

Yeah, I think I was just lucky to got to know her.