MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

April 2, 2023

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/J. Sinner

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Jannik, bad luck today. But you must take a lot of positives out of the Sunshine Double with one semifinal and one final and a lot of good wins.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure. I mean, it has been a very positive month for me. Obviously disappointed about today.

I woke up not in the best possible way. I felt a little bit sick, but we tried, you know, to go out of the courts, I mean, to go on the court, trying to give it a shot, give it a try.

Unfortunately today was not my day. But still, I don't want to take nothing away from Daniil. He was serving incredible. He was very brave with the way he played today. Obviously is one of the best players in the world.

I tried. Today was not my day. Now it's clay season.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Jannik, you had an impressive run in the Miami Open, particularly your victory over Carlos Alcaraz, the No. 1, in semifinals. How do you feel about your overall performance throughout the tournament? What can you remember about the match against Carlos that you missed today?

JANNIK SINNER: I think we talked already a lot about this match, no, against Carlos? Today was completely different match. Still, the good thing is that after Indian Wells compared to here I have improved. I felt better on court. That's the most important.

Then now obviously, as I said, the clay season is starting, is completely different, different surface, and I also don't have a lot of time to prepare for it.

You know, we go back. Have also one or two days off because I need to recover. Not even one week you have to change everything. So it's gonna be, for sure, something interesting. I'm looking forward to it. Yeah, so let's see how it goes.

Q. On the illness this morning, what was it exactly? Was it stomach or...

JANNIK SINNER: No, like general, you know, a little bit didn't felt 100%.

Q. Did you consider maybe not playing? Was it that bad?

JANNIK SINNER: No, it was not that bad. But, you know, with the heat, when you run a lot, it gets a little bit worse and worse. Obviously the first half an hour we played in the sun also. I think we both knew it already that the sun is something around till 2:15.

When the rallies were long today, I was struggling the point or two points after. That's a little bit. But as I said, I don't want to take away anything. I tried. We went out of the court and we believed, because if you step on the court, you have to believe trying to win.

As I said, he played well today. He served well. I haven't had many chances on the returning games. You know, I think also today we learned a lot for the next match. Is for me one of the toughest opponents, for sure. The head-to-head says it. Let's see in the next match. Yeah, let's see.

Q. The game at 2-2 when he made three double faults, did it change your mind? Did you think that you could turn it and maybe the door was open?

JANNIK SINNER: Sorry?

Q. When he made the three double faults and you broke him back, did you think that the door was open and you could make it?

JANNIK SINNER: 2-All in the first set?

Q. In the first, yes.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, I tried always to be quite aggressive on the second serves. I think he was expecting a little bit this.

But I was also missing a couple of return shots. In the second set I tried to adapt myself, trying to step back a little bit when I broke him also in 2-0.

But, you know, in the beginning was also tough, because on one side there was still the sun a little bit, so you had to adjust with the toss. But yeah, I also think that he returns very well. I still have to get a little bit used to the serve and volley for sure against him. Not only against him but in general, also against the other players, and then to see, you know.

But I think, as I said, I have improved from Indian Wells to here. I go out with positive feelings. Then we see how it goes in the clay season.

Q. You mentioned going to clay. Is that where you're most comfortable at this point? You're having great success on the hard courts, as well, but obviously you started playing on lots of clay and you had that semifinal at the French Open when you were just 19. How do you see yourself going into the clay season? Do you think...

JANNIK SINNER: Quarterfinal.

Q. Quarterfinal, okay, sorry. But how do you see yourself going into the clay season? Like this is where I'm most strong?

JANNIK SINNER: No, I think I'm stronger on hard court, to be honest, because when I was very young I always played on hard courts, especially indoors, because where I'm from there is a lot of snow.

For sure in the last years, I played well also on the clay, that's for sure, but I think my game suits a little bit better on hard court. That's it.

But I made good results also on clay, yeah. I started also very well last year making quarters in Monte-Carlo. Lost 7-6 in the third there also. So I'm very looking forward to it and know that I can improve also there.

Last year I felt also quite well on the clay season, but, you know, in the beginning it's always tough when you don't have a lot of time to adapt. It's gonna be a very interesting week.

Q. During the first-set changeover, the trainer came out and gave you some little packet. Was that a dehydration thing?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, they gave me just some salt to maybe push me a little bit. It helped a little bit, but it was not, you know, incredible. You know, when you wake up like this, there are not magical things (smiling).

Q. How much did Friday night's match take out of you? Not just physically but also, you know, mentally.

JANNIK SINNER: No, I mean, it takes, for sure, a little bit, because it was a match what I was very looking forward to. I was preparing a lot.

In the other way, you know, when you step off court, you feel also confident, no? Because winning against Carlos, it was a very, very good win.

But to be honest, I was focused already against Daniil, because against Daniil I never won. It's always going to be a tough, tough challenge for me to play against him, for sure. But I don't know. I feel like I'm getting closer and closer.

Even today I felt like that the chances are there, so that's the good thing and the positive thing. Then we see in the future. But every player has this one or two players where you don't feel that comfortable with. He's for sure one of mine. I mean, he's also one of the best players in the world, no?

But still, for sure I have to improve to beat him, like all the other players they try to improve, and then we see in the future how it goes, but it's gonna be a good challenge for me, a challenge what I am always looking forward to play against him.

Q. Was there any trace of feeling cramps? At one stage it looked like you were limping a little bit.

JANNIK SINNER: No, cramps, no. No, no, it's all good.