NITTO ATP FINALS

November 18, 2023

Jannik Sinner

Pala Alpitour,Torino

Press Conference

J. SINNER/D. Medvedev

6-3, 7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. Jannik, what did it feel like when that last point was won and you know you're the first Italian to reach the final of this event in the 54 years of its history?

JANNIK SINNER: No, it feels great. Obviously, it has been a really tough match. I was expecting that he was changing a little bit. I was struggling in the beginning. He was pushing a lot. He was much more aggressive. I think every set had his own story at some point.

Obviously, after the last points, I don't know, a lot of emotions obviously. It's great. The atmosphere has been awesome again. Sharing this moment with Italian fans means a lot to me. We're playing here in Italy. Obviously means a lot for me and also my team.

I think it was a great match. Obviously very positive, positive emotions.

Q. It seems like life is great for you. You're in your first ATP Finals. You have an upper hand against Carlos Alcaraz. You just beat Novak Djokovic for the first time in your career. You're playing with your home crowd. What is the thing you should be wary or careful about in your upcoming finals match?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, I'm careful about everything when I play against the No. 1 or the No. 2 in the world. Tough match for sure is coming up. Not so much time to enjoy this moment because tomorrow is going to be a really tough match. But I'm looking forward to it, no?

It's huge privilege to be here in the final. I feel privileged to play against Novak or against Carlos. It's going to be a tough match. I'm looking forward to it. Trying to give all what I have, 100%, and hopefully it's going to be a good matchup.

It doesn't really matter the matches before, how they have been. Especially with this format, you can win against one, but after you can lose. It's different.

But still happy that I can go one more time on the court here in Turin. Good atmosphere. Hopefully I can show some good tennis.

Q. Just in case Carlos gets to the final, what would it mean for you playing maybe your biggest rival on the biggest final of your career and in front of your crowd?

JANNIK SINNER: I mean, if Carlos wins, would be I think nice for tennis, having two from different generation in the final. I played against him already sometimes. I think the matchup is really, really good. Usually we have always some interesting points, interesting moments.

If I play against Carlos or if I play against Novak, they're going to change couple of things. I have to be aware. I have to be very careful and intelligent to understand what's going on on the court. Let's see what's coming, no?

If Carlos wins, would be nice because there are many things together in our matchup. But let's see. He's facing the No. 1 in the world today. Novak, he has been in the position so many times. He's looking for history again in this tournament.

It's going to be interesting and let's see who is my opponent tomorrow. Hopefully, as I said before, it's going to be a good match.

Q. Today when you walk on the street in Italy, do people recognize you? Are you quiet? You're not far from becoming a sports star in Italy, even in the world. Are you ready to change your stature and to become a star, not able to be alone walking the street?

JANNIK SINNER: No, I guess it's part of that what I do, no? The only issue that I have red hair, so it's easy to recognize me (laughter). Things change when I have a cap on, so it's good.

But still, I'm not looking for - how do you say - attention off the court, no? If people, they recognize me, it is a good feeling, nice feeling. I guess it's a good problem to have in one way. In the other way, sometimes when you want to go to eat something normally in a restaurant, it's also a little bit different. It's I think a good problem to have in one way.

Honestly, I don't care so much how famous I am because I always have done normal things. I am a normal boy or man, getting a man now.

There are some things what change, but in the other way it's all good.

Q. You have a very devoted fan base. Carote Boys are becoming more and more frequent picture during your match. My question is, do you feel more confident walking out on court knowing your fan base is so strong behind you, supporting you?

JANNIK SINNER: I think it's nice that they build or made this fan base in one way. It's personalized fans, so it's good to have them.

I'm also happy for them because they feeling like they are growing also as a group. I talk to them. They are friends when they were three years old or four years old. They have grown up together when they were young. I think that's more important, that they are good friends together, they know each other really well.

I got to know them not so long ago. It's also for me important that I get to know these kind of people. They have a good impact to the Italian crowd. I think they makes things also a little bit more funnier in one way. So it's good.

Here there are so many thousands of fans in the stadium, so I'm not looking where they are because I feel like the atmosphere has been awesome throughout the whole week with all the other people. It's nice.

But for sure, when you travel and you go, like, for example this year New York, you can see them in the stadium because they are a little bit different. Let's see what connection we have also in the future.