CHINA OPEN

October 1, 2024

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/Buyunchaokete

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Jannik. Two consecutive finals in the China Open. Do you have anything to speak about with us now about your opponent, about the match?

JANNIK SINNER: Happy obviously to be back in the finals here. It's a very special place.

But it was a very tough and tricky match. Felt like he was playing great. In the beginning I think we both tried to understand a little bit how we play because it was the first time. After I had some chances in the second set, in the returning games. I couldn't use them.

Obviously very happy that I won in two sets. The third set, you never know what's going to happen.

He's a very, very great player. I was very happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You mentioned in last night's press conference how different this match might have been if your opponent was Rublev. Considering the quick turnaround, how did you prepare for Bu? Do you feel like you executed your game plan tonight?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, obviously I watched a little bit of his quarterfinal match against Andrey, trying to understand a little bit how he plays. But when you feel his ball, it's a little bit different when you play against.

In the beginning I tried to understand a little bit how he was moving, how his shots are. Felt like he's an all-around, very good player. It's tough to play against him. He made some great results in the last month.

He's obviously also very, very young. I have the feeling that we will see him more and more here in the biggest stages.

Q. What impressed you the most from your opponent?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, he's a very solid player. He kept his level throughout the whole match, which is also sometimes tough to see. They have little bit ups and downs. He was very solid.

He doesn't really have big weaknesses. Forehand, backhand, good serve, also the return game is very good. You have to earn every point you play. Physically he's good.

Obviously there are things he can for sure and will for sure improve. He's making his breakthrough a little bit this year, the last couple of months, and hopefully he keeps going.

Q. You're playing a Chinese player in China on Chinese National Day. What is it like playing in front of a crowd like that where you know you're kind of in enemy territory, where everybody really kind of wants the other guy to win?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I was actually quite surprised how fair the crowd was. It was a very fair crowd. It was a great atmosphere. Was a packed stadium. It was a pleasure to play there, to be honest, to be part of the match.

I felt like the match, it was going to get very tight in the second set. That's exactly what people wanted to see. They want to see a great match.

I always feel like, especially night sessions, you always have to feel that you are honored to step on the court because they're special occasions, doesn't matter where you are and where you play. Obviously when you play against a player where he is from that country where you're playing in, it's a little bit different.

It has been a very fair, fair crowd. That's also in US Open against Americans, a little bit different, still very fair. It's always nice to be part of the matches.