DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 23, 2023

Filippo Volandri

Jannik Sinner

Lorenzo Sonego

Team Italy

Press Conference

SINNER-SONEGO/Griekspoor-Koolhof

6-3, 6-4

Team Italy - 2

Team Netherlands - 1

THE MODERATOR: Let's start with English questions for Team Italy.

Q. Congrats on the win. A question for both Jannik and Lorenzo. The last time you played doubles together was at Indian Wells, but you seemed so at ease playing together, connecting very well. Sinner with some great serves; Sonego with ballistic forehands. How confident were you in each other's chances? I don't know if you practiced before, if you knew you were going to play together?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure, you know, first of all, deciding doubles, everything can happen. We played in the beginning of the year in Australia, and then we played one match in Indian Wells.

But I think the most important thing was today the attitude, and I think we match each other really well with attitude. We both have great energy, and on the court we are not complaining about nothing and then trying to stay in the present moment, which today helped.

It was a tough situation, not only for us but also for them. We knew that they were also under pressure. But I think generally we made a good job. We took a lot of energy from our team, which is our fundamental.

I think it was a great match to start, no? Because it could have been finished already today. We are all happy to be here, for sure, one more day and then we see what's coming.

Q. I would like to ask, do you see how crowds are reacting on your doubles? Most of the crowd was for you. Jannik, do you feel the pressure? Because now you are one of the best players in the world, do you feel the pressure to win this or do you have any kind of pressure? How does it feel for you?

JANNIK SINNER: I think pressure is a privilege to have. There are not so many players who has this privilege. Davis Cup pressure is different, because you know that you have big responsibility to show, because you don't have many chances.

So it is a privilege. Obviously, you know, coming here with confidence, knowing the first day was not easy, and today I started so-and-so the first set, but still I tried to kept going.

But as I said before here, it's nice that the last event of the year is a team event. They can give you good energy.

I think we are doing all the right things. We are a big family, and today we showed it, no? Everyone is giving 100%. That's the least thing players can do, especially when they play for the country.

Q. Congratulations on the win. Jannik, a question for you. What's the biggest challenge going from playing lots of singles tennis on a singles court to then very quickly moving on to a doubles court?

JANNIK SINNER: Lorenzo made it very simple for me today (smiling). Obviously I didn't play so many doubles throughout the last years, but knowing that, you know, the captain chose us, it's also here a privilege to play.

As I said, I think it's very important with who you play, and then we are good friends also off the court, which makes things so much easier. But, yeah, doubles is different. You have to react. Especially on the net, I don't feel that confident yet, but, you know, I think today was one of my best doubles, for sure, which hopefully can give me confidence for the future.

Q. I wanted to ask you, Jannik, but one shot in specific, your serve, which you have been hitting with a lot of confidence as of late. I think you won against Griekspoor 91% of points with your first serve, and in the past few months you have been hitting more aggressively. Have you worked on that shot in particular maybe with Darren or Simone?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's all part of the process. I think also technically we have improved, but I think there was one point in this year where I went down with how fast I served but trying to use a little bit more rotation.

In Vienna, for example, I made two times over 80% first serves, which for me is something incredible (smiling). But in the other way, it helps to understand that not always going as big as possible helps.

Especially on this court, you know, you can use the rotation of the slice. It slips a bit away. So you have to be also brave to use it.

Q. Lorenzo, can you just talk about how much you enjoyed being out there today and the importance for you being part of the team and what it can continue to do with your development?

LORENZO SONEGO: Yeah, it's always special to be here and to be a part of this team and to play for Italy.

Yeah, I really happy when the captain choose this team for the doubles. I was really happy about it. I tried to put big energy on court and all that I have on court.