THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 14, 2023

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/J. Sinner

6-3, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Jannik Sinner.

Jannik, tough day today. Give us your thoughts.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure. He played a very good match. I obviously tried my best. I felt like I had some chances. I couldn't use them. It was tough.

But I felt actually not, yeah, good on the court. It's for sure tough day, but I'm going to learn about this and hopefully I can improve.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What were you trying to do today that you were unable to do in terms of the way you were playing? You seemed to have some trouble with your footing at times.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it was a little bit more humid today than in the last matches. But it's for both of us, for sure.

Regardless of the score, I felt like I was more close this year than last year. That's what I felt. I felt like also the level was better. I think it's something positive from my point of view.

As I said, I had chances in the beginning of the match. Then I had break points in the second set. Third set I had set points.

I felt like I was closer this year than last year, even if last year was five sets.

As I said, in the pressure moments, he was playing very good, not missing. Yeah, that's him.

Q. Your opponent had a hindrance call. Were you hindered at that point?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's a call of the umpire, no? Obviously he hit the ball already, and then after he was shouting quite long and with the volume up.

I came there, obviously I was quite focused about the ball. But, yeah, players, we do this when we are quite sure we win the point with this shot. Also, like, I don't know, Bublik against Andrey in the last game, it was similar, no?

Yeah, that's it.

Q. What do you feel you need to do to take the next step and win these matches?

JANNIK SINNER: I'm trying to play in these situations more often. I knew before the match already that it's a tough match today, but that's why I practice for. I felt like I was ready. I went with the right mentality on the court. I had a belief to win this match.

I am not afraid to play these kind of matches, no? First semifinal is never easy to play. I felt like, as I said before, my level was good. I was just, especially in the pressure points, I messed it up a little bit. But it's trying to take out the positives and looking forward.

Q. Can anyone stop Djokovic winning Wimbledon?

JANNIK SINNER: Let's see Sunday. I don't know. It depends also in what situation they will play. Obviously the other finalist we don't know yet. They are two different players.

Obviously he has been in this situation much more often than his opponent is going to be. He played more grass court matches than his opponent.

But let's see. It's also a final with more pressure maybe also and everything. So let's see. But, yeah, he is the favorite for sure.

Q. Novak's serve is called underrated sometimes. Can you help us understand what it is to be in front of Novak's serve? Is it hard to read, quicker than we have the impression?

JANNIK SINNER: No, yeah, it's tough to read. I felt like he has improved also the serve a little bit. And when he's missing, he's not missing on much. It's always quite, quite close to the lines.

But still I felt like I was returning good the more the match went more. I started to play better. But, yeah, it is a very tough serve to return because also especially first serve is not bouncing quite high. It's quite flat with a little bit of slice and everything.

It's a good serve, yeah.

Q. Is it harder to play the ball against Novak Djokovic than anybody else? What I mean is, you're aware of what he's done in the sport. Does that come into your mind?

JANNIK SINNER: Obviously you know that you play against the best player in the world at the moment, especially on this surface. But, as I said, I don't think about this so much because I feel like you have to make your own decisions on the court. Obviously, if you think how big he is, you struggle.

His mental side is very strong, for sure. Especially, as I said before, the important moments, he knows exactly how to play them. He's not going to give you something.

I also, as I said before, had some easy shots which I missed. I was up in the tiebreak, made a double-fault and a couple of rally misses.

It's also not easy.