ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 12, 2024

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/ T. Machac

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Jannik, well done. Could you reflect, not only on today's win, but also on securing the year-end No. 1 for the first time, of course.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's a good feeling. I'm very happy to achieve this. It was an amazing season for me, and it's not finished yet. Tomorrow is a great final ahead, first time here in Shanghai, so I'm looking forward to it, and then we see how it goes, hopefully, it's going to be a good match.

And, you know, being No. 1 in the world at the end of the year, it was only a dream just to become No. 1, now finishing it, it's also a different feeling.

But now during the tournament it's a bit different, so I'm just trying to be focused for tomorrow, and then we see how it goes.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. When you set out at the start of the season, do you think you could have ever have imagined everything you've achieved this year?

JANNIK SINNER: No, not really, because, you know, you cannot predict the future in one way. For me, I always try to improve as a player. For me it's, you know, also depends how you start a season. You know, if you start it in a good way like I did, you know, winning Australia, then you have much more confidence throughout the whole season.

But, yeah, the season is going amazingly, I just try to stay there, you know, every match I play, trying to find a solution somehow, you know, that's it. I think it's very tough to predict the future in any case, so I'm just trying to enjoy this moment, and also trying to improve daily, and then we see how it goes.

Q. I just wondered if you could look ahead to the final, and both of your potential opponents, if you could just give your thoughts on how you might face them differently.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, if it's Novak, you know, we always had some very tough matches in the past. It's going to be a very tough one, it's one of the biggest challenges we have in our sport. So, you know, I'm happy that I can play against him in the final, it's even more special, and then we see how it goes. I mean, it's very tough to predict this one.

If it's Taylor, we just played the final in a Grand Slam, we know each other a little bit better, even if we haven't faced each other so many times as I did with Novak.

He's a very, very powerful player, huge serve, and amazing ground strokes, as also Novak. So they are, in one way, similar. Obviously Novak, he moves a bit better, you know, he's a different player, but, you know, it's going to be a very tough match in any case, but I'm just happy to be in a final and hopefully it's going to be a good match.

Q. I was wondering if you could comment on the fan support here in Shanghai, and what is it like seeing yourself on promotions through the city and on the billboard coming into the tournament site.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's an amazing atmosphere. You know, semifinals, finals, and quarterfinals, they are, you know, usually are packed stadiums, so it's nice to be part of any encounter.

And, you know, the fans here, you can feel the love they give to you. It's a different culture, so it's also nice to see this. Yeah, I enjoy it, no, it's amazing, you know. It's also a Masters event, you know, a very big tournament. I love to play here, to be on site, it's very nice, it's for sure one of the best tournaments we have throughout the year. So, I'm very happy and glad to have a chance to play here my first final, and, yeah, it's very nice, I really appreciate the fans.

Q. You're the first Italian to get the year-end No. 1 ranking. Does that have any special significance for you?

JANNIK SINNER: Not really, because I always look on my side what I have to do, and what I try to achieve. I think it's very nice for Italy because, you know, Italy, it's a very nice country, we have, you know, everything we need. We have amazing food, we have, you know, everything. I mean, we have mountains, we have sea, we have different mentalities coming, you know, from every part of Italy, it's just nice.

I'm very proud to be Italian, and just bringing back something for the fans, and then they are giving me so much love, so I'm happy to be in that position.

But there is not only me, we are so many great players, so many, yeah, we have in top 100, top 200, it's amazing that the tennis is growing, and hopefully it can grow even bigger.

Q. Talking about audience, well, tonight that, "I love Roger" scene is kind of cute during your match with the Czech player, so could you just tell us more about the story, your instant reaction to it?

JANNIK SINNER: After this what happened on court?

Q. Yeah. Yeah.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's nice. I mean, I always try to stay focused about the game, but, you know, sometimes when this happens it's also nice. I mean, it was also nice from Machac, you know, to joke around a little bit with the crowd, because that's, you know, the crowd, they want to see entertainment.

Obviously Roger is amazing when he watches some matches, or, you know, he shows his love for this sport, and then how much he gave, obviously, for this, yeah, for our tennis. It's amazing to see him around, and just, you know, to see him or talk to him a little bit, so, yeah, it was a very, very nice moment.