AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2024

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/S. Baez

6-0, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Jannik. Another straightforward victory. Just looking ahead at your match against Karen, just give us a few thoughts about that one.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure. It's already quite a while that I don't play against him. It's going to be interesting. He is playing always good, especially in a Grand Slam. It's going to be interesting.

Every time we played, was very long matches, tough matches. It's long time that we don't play anymore again, so it's going to be hopefully a good match the next one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. You seem to be just going so quietly through the draw so far. Everyone else is having dramas and long matches. Are you happy? Otherwise people might forget you're there. You're going through quietly.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, no, I don't know. At the moment, especially also today's match was really good. I played good tennis. I love the conditions also today, because was no wind and no sun. So it was, for me, a little bit easier to get used to it.

I felt great the ball. I made the right decisions, and I used every chance I had today, which maybe in the first match I was struggling a little bit. But, you know, it's good to have this match feeling back again. I'm very excited to step on the court every time.

I'm doing my job. I try to stay focus. I try to find a solution against every player I play. But, for sure, now the next round is going to be different, it's going to be tough. Every match is tough. It doesn't really matter the score. I also had today some tough moments in the third set, so I have to see how it goes.

I'm very happy, and let's see.

Q. It was another early match today for you or first match on. How are you enjoying starting at that time knowing you're going to finish at a good time? Is that an advantage in a Grand Slam?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, we didn't make any requests, so it's their choice.

I like to play first match. You know the time when you enter. You know that you most likely are going to finish a little bit earlier than other players. Obviously you have more time to recover, also.

I like to play day session anyway. Maybe night session, the atmosphere sometimes, it's more spectacular in one way, but also, today the atmosphere was really nice. I love to play on that court, and it's always good feeling, no, especially when you play a Grand Slam you play in a big court. It's always nice.

Q. Do you ever make any requests for when you want to play?

JANNIK SINNER: No. Sometimes. It depends also how I feel, no? Until now, in this season I didn't make any requests.

Q. This is the first time you haven't dropped a set in the first three rounds since the 2020 French Open. How confident are you in your game at the moment? Is this the best you ever felt on the court?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I feel good on the court at the moment.

The last two rounds I had two similar opponents. The first round was a little bit different. The next round is going to be completely different again. So as I said, I just try to stay focused, to stay calm. I enjoy every moment on the court and also off the court, I think everything is going in the right way.

I do feel confident, no? I came here with a good offseason, preparation. And obviously the two matches in Kooyong, they helped me a little bit to get into match rhythm, and I'm just quite focused and also relaxed on the court at the moment.

Let's see how I handle the situation when the score is even or I'm down, how I react. It's going to be interesting to see.

Q. As you mentioned, the matches between you and Khachanov so far have been really close ones. I know it was a while ago, as you said, since you met. Why do you think game-wise your matches have been so close and what do you have to focus on this time to beat him again?

JANNIK SINNER: I have to analyze a little bit now, because everything has changed, but we do play a little bit similar. We love to play with the rhythm. Physically we both are good movers. He has improved a lot, I think. Also the serve he has improved.

So let's see. It's for sure a tough match coming up. But this is why also I practice, no, to see where my level is, where I can find the right solution every time.

So let's see. The last time we played it's already quite a while ago, so let's see.

Q. You have alternated between the pinpoint and platform serving stance I think a few times in your career. Just wondering what caused you to switch back to pinpoint last year. Are you happy with how things are going?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I think I still can improve a couple of things, but in other way, talking generally, it gives me a better rhythm with the serve.

In the beginning when you change, it's not that easy because you do one motion more, with the feets going closer. But in the other way, it gives you more momentum with the serve that you can serve a little bit faster, because the motions are a little bit more dynamic.

But every player has his own style, no. I changed it last year. At the moment I feel good. I don't think at the moment that I'm gonna change again, because we tried to stabilize the serve, and at the moment I'm serving a little bit better, knowing already obviously that I can improve a couple of things.

But now what we have to improve are a little bit, you know, small details in every shot. So yeah.

Q. There was a very positive vibe coming from your support team today. Walk us through how it works, having your regular coach, Simone, and then Darren Cahill, who's coming to provide additional help. How does that work, balancing things between who handles what?

JANNIK SINNER: I'm talking in general, I think tactical/technical part is more for Simone. The emotional part, talking in the right way before the match, giving confidence, not only to me but also to the team, this is a little bit more Darren's "job."

But I think the mix of both of them, it's really nice. You know, they have a lot of respect for each other. Nobody wants to go over one, so they are always in the same line. I think that's one key thing what I have in my team, no. We are always, if there is a problem, we talk together, we find a solution together, and honestly, we are quite all pretty relaxed.

You know, we know that every match is important, that every tournament is important, but it's also more important to stay in a good mood always, no. Obviously sometimes you are a bit more nervous, which is normal. But I think talking generally, it's a good team to be around.

Q. Even in the match today there was a couple of lighter moments. There was one at the end where it was just before you broke to win the match, and you said something to Simone in Italian, and whatever it was he had a good laugh and then Darren had a good laugh. What did you say to him and what was the joke?

JANNIK SINNER: No, I don't say what I said (smiling).

You know, also in matches, I used to be really, really serious, which I still am, obviously. But, you know, even in practice sessions I consider myself as a really hard worker, but sometimes you have to smile, you have to laugh a little bit, because it's also important, no, and it change your attitude on the court a little bit. I think in a positive way.

And today was the same, no. Yeah, this is, like, on 5-3 I joked a little bit, because it gives myself also a little bit of motivation sometimes.

Q. So when you brought in Darren, was that really to address that aspect of your game, to say, okay, I'm getting too down on myself, too intense, I need someone to settle things a bit before I go out on court?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, he is a very experienced coach. He has coached so many players, bringing them to No. 1 in the world also, so all different players. So I truly believe that he is one of the best coaches ever in this sport.

And for me, it's also important that, you know, Simone gives me stability. You know, he knows me better in one way. So it's both of them that give me something positive obviously, and I have to listen to them in one way. As they believe in me, I believe in them. This is kind of teamwork.