AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2024

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/J. de Jong

6-2, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Jannik, congrats. How much did you know about your opponent before today?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure it was something new to play against him. It's obviously coming from qualifying, making a good first round, so I had to be very careful, especially in the beginning, trying to get to know him.

Then at some point I played really well. I served good, returned also well, so it was a good match today. Now let's see what's coming in the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What did you and Darren talk about specifically after that Round 1 win over Botic?

JANNIK SINNER: That it was a positive match, you know, because coming back after a little while, playing an official match, it was not easy. Not everything went in my way at some point, but I tried to stay there mentally, no. It was really good, and it was a good first-round match.

Today I played, tennis-wise, I played a little bit better. I felt better on the court. You know, roof closed, it's a little bit different. I love the conditions. But it's part of a tournament, no, when it's raining, that you can trying to adapt yourself also in a different situation.

So the first-round match we talked that it was, we analyzed it really simple, no. Today we still have to talk but I guess it was a good match.

Q. After two straight-set matches, is there anything you can improve on?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, for sure. It depends, as I said, also about the situation, no. For sure I can improve. Today I played quite well -- I played well today. I felt good on the court. I was very calm and stable throughout the whole match.

You know, we have to see how I go when the match is closer, when the sets are closer, trying to see how I react. But, you know, everything together I felt or I feel good, no, to be back in competition. This is what I work for, to be on court, trying to compete.

Today it seemed more easier than it was, because he played well throughout the whole tournament. I wish him all the best. He's a very nice person, a nice man, and hopefully we can see him many more times making some good draws the whole year.

Q. My question is about coffee. Daniel Taro and John Millman had a discussion on Twitter about where is the best coffee in the world. Millman said Australia; Daniel said Italy. You're from Italy. Do you...

JANNIK SINNER: Italy. Of course Italy (smiling).

No, I do drink coffee. It depends a little bit day by day how many, how many coffees I drink. You know, me being an Italian, I have to say obviously Italy.

The best one is Lavazza, because I'm sponsored by Lavazza (smiling).

But, no, I like, I like coffee, but I'm not a specialist about coffees.

Q. You talked about gym work. Can you talk about what your favorite sort of exercises are. Are there any machines you get excited about, anything that might be different from other players.

JANNIK SINNER: I like to mix it up, honestly. I think my fitness coach is really good to mix up the things. He understands what I need and what I might need for the next matches or whatever. So it's exciting to work with him, you know.

At the end of the day I love to play. This is why I'm a tennis player, because, you know, tennis is, you can play. That's also one of the reasons why I choose to play tennis and not continue with skiing, no?

So sometimes when you're tired and you still have to go in the gym, it's sometimes tough, but you remind, you know, that this is the right way, trying to improve, and you have to accept it.

So it also makes it a little bit more fun when you have the fitness coach, when you can joke around a little bit, trying to relax also.

Yeah, I don't like so much cardio and running, but when we make the combined work on the court, no, with the cardio, I like it more. It depends (smiling).

Q. You have always been a huge star in Italy, but especially after winning the Italy's first Davis Cup since 1976, can you just describe to us how big a deal that was in Italy. Because we saw that vision of you inside soccer stadiums, football stadiums, people chanting your name. Has life changed a little bit since then?

JANNIK SINNER: For sure I get more recognized, especially in Italy. But in the other way for me it hasn't changed nothing, to be honest. One week after I went in a gym like a usual day, and I went on a court like a usual day.

So for sure I get more recognized maybe because let's say that maybe before the Davis Cup I couldn't imagine how big of a deal this was, no? And then after, after you realize how important Davis Cup is.

For sure I always played for Italy because I love to play for it. I love to represent it hopefully in a right way the Italian flag, but until you don't really win it or you get into the competition of Davis Cup, it's tough to understand how important it is, no.

So it was really, really nice to be part of this. Happy that I gave my amount of winning percentage to the team. And I'm looking forward for the Olympics, no, because obviously you play for yourself but also for Italy, so it's going to be fun. So let's see.