THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2022

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/J. Sinner

5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: A great effort out there today. Give us your thoughts on the match.

JANNIK SINNER: It was a tough match, knowing that before. I was playing well, and he raised his level during fourth, and I think the fifth I played in the right way, just I missed the final shots.

Yeah, I think I can be proud of what I have done here. Hopefully can give me a lot of confidence for the rest.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We just heard from Novak on the court when he said he thought he was going to win the match. At what stage did you think, this is not going my way and I'm going to lose this? At what point did you think it's going to escape away from me?

JANNIK SINNER: You know, it's best-of-five. When you are up two sets to love, you play every set in the best possible way. I mean, in the third when I was serving and was Love-15, I hit an easy forehand in the net, Love-30. Then after he played a good point. Instead of being 15-30 I was Love-40, and then he broke me. From that point he was playing better.

As I said, the fifth set I think I played in the right way. I mean, I had to do something more because he was dictating more the points. So, yeah, that's it.

Q. You fell over and you rolled over. Did you hurt yourself in that situation? What did it feel like to have Novak picking you up?

JANNIK SINNER: Yes, I twisted my ankle, the left one. In the beginning I felt pain. I was a bit scared in that point, but after, when I made the first steps, I felt it was okay. And nothing.

Then I was a little bit careful the first two points, but then I was good. I was, yeah, that's the most important thing, that my body feels good. So, yeah.

Q. Bad luck today. With the way you have played here at Wimbledon this year and the very good players you have beaten, and in taking the best player all the way today, does it give you confidence that you can come back here, do very well and maybe win it one day?

JANNIK SINNER: I mean, I think I played every match better even if the opponents were always different. It gave me confidence match after match, so that's good. I think also for the future, coming back here next year can help me a lot. I have learned many things on grass, and that was the reason why we choose to play grass.

Yeah, and now we see. I mean, I showed that I can play good tennis, for sure. I showed that I can play some good level of tennis. I will try to keep working hard, because that's the most important.

Now we go back. We might have some days off, but then after, we push again. Then we see how it goes in the next months. So let's see.

Q. Novak said after the match that when he was two sets to love down, he went off for a toilet break and gave himself a pep talk to inspire himself and come back and win. What were you telling yourself after you won the first two sets?

JANNIK SINNER: Just trying to keep going. I mean, I think I played well. I knew that he's gonna change something, so I tried to prepare myself before.

Yeah, I mean, obviously a lot of positives if you win the first two sets, the other one, for sure, is struggling more. Even if when the sets are 2-All, you're in the same position. I mean, both of us has to play the fifth set.

It just was not -- I tried my best. You know, that is all I can say. Hopefully one day I can come back and play even better.

Q. Terrific effort from you today. I understand that you have had the chance to practice a lot previously with Novak Djokovic. How has that helped you improve, and how did it help you today, especially in those first two sets when you were hitting very, very well?

JANNIK SINNER: I think we have some similar style of tennis, a little bit. I always like to practice with him, because he has a good ball to hit. I think also I have, so we have a good rhythm.

In one way, it can help you. You know, when you play against, you know what to expect. In the other way you know also a little bit the weaknesses of both of us.

Yeah, I mean, we had also here, especially on grass, after the first round, I think the first and the second matches, we both won the day after we practice together.

I mean, it's always a special feeling, even if you go on the practice courts and you can practice with him.

Tournament is different and there are different tension. You play with crowd, which is always special. I think it was special today also.

Q. Unlike many other players, you started playing tennis seriously at an older age. What's the advantage, do you think, you combine several sports for many years as a kid?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, for sure I enjoyed when I was young. I made different sports which, you know, I was not focusing on one. So I always tried to do what I wanted. Then at some point I chose to play tennis, because I like more tennis than other sports.

But, you know, I think positive things, if you do other sport, I think the coordination is good. You know how to use your feet and hands, depending on what kind of sport you do.

Yeah, I have done a lot of sport even when I was young. Yeah, I think there is not a rule if somebody plays only tennis he will arrive or if he's making other sports he will arrive. Everyone is different.

Q. When Nick Kyrgios was in here the other day, he talked about you and how fearless you are as a young player and compared it to when he broke through at 19 and beat Nadal here and how it kind of created this ambience that players like Nadal and Djokovic weren't gods, you could hurt them. How do you feel going on the court with Novak Djokovic psychologically? Do you have to kind of remove yourself from the fact that you are playing one of the greatest of all time? How do you deal with the difficulty of facing one of the best?

JANNIK SINNER: For sure, you know, where you are going to play, for sure you know that you are going to play on Centre Court, and then with a lot of people. That's the good thing that you know before the match.

It's a little bit different when you face these kind of players. I like to challenge myself. I am a guy who likes the competition. That's also the reason why I practice for: Having special matches and in important rounds, like today, quarterfinals.

Yeah, I know that I have still a lot to improve, but I think I can be happy after this Wimbledon. I showed some good tennis. I think also him after he lost the second set, he had to raise his level, because otherwise he most likely was losing.

But, you know, it's tennis. I knew that he's one of the best players of all time. Yeah, let's see in the future how it goes.