Sinner on why he played so fast : “Felix is a a phenomenal player”
“I won’t play every match exactly like I played today”, Sinner said after his first match. Sinner’s original answers were given in Italian and German.
Jannik Sinner, 2025 | © Zuma / PsNewz
Jannik, your first match was against a strong opponent who has demonstrated great form this season, espacially on indoor courts, Felix Auger-Aliassime. The first set was very tight – a high-level battle up to 6-5. How did you assess your performance and what were the most important takeaways from that win?
Jannik Sinner: It was a high-level match for sure, especially until 6-5. Things happened quickly after that. I actually had my chances earlier, at 5-4, where I unfortunately missed two returns at 30-40, but that can happen in the heat of the moment. The situation was unique because it wasn’t just the first match here for either of us; the last time we played was a Masters final in Paris, so the build-up and the preparation were quite different. I was ready, but it was certainly not an easy match – quite the opposite. He had a physical problem, and obviously, you never want to win that way, but you have to accept the victory and continue to play at your highest level. He is a phenomenal player; he deserves to be here, and when he is playing at 100%, he is incredibly difficult to beat on all surfaces, particularly indoors.
The speed of the exchanges was striking. Did you feel that extraordinary pace – that continuous, fast rhythm – was this an abnormal acceleration, or is this becoming your typical level of execution, your “cruising speed”?
Jannik Sinner: That pace is often intentional. You know, there are certain players where the tactical goal is to try to take away their time. Conversely, there are other players where you have to play tactically differently, and typically, when you do that, you lower the speed a little bit. Today, I specifically wanted to start quite strong because I knew he was looking for that same aggressive rhythm.
You always have to see how you feel and how you start. I started very well in the first game, getting up to four first serves, which gives you immediate confidence. I know I won’t play every match exactly like I played today because I have two completely different opponents remaining in the group. They all serve incredibly well, and from the baseline, they present three different games, so I have to adapt my game plan for each one. But yes, today, when I saw the ball, I hit it.
Ultimately, a set is often decided by just two or three balls. So, yes, the game today was extremely fast.
There are points where you have to be more solid, though, because opportunities are scarce. When you miss a response on a break point, or at 15-30, you risk losing the set because you never know what will happen if you reach a tie-break. Ultimately, a set is often decided by just two or three balls. So, yes, the game today was extremely fast.
Looking ahead to your next match, specifically against Sascha Zverev, the courts here seem to be changing. How crucial will your serve be, and how is the variability you’ve added to your serve helping you in these high-level clashes?
Jannik Sinner: Yes, the ability to vary my serve is definitely helping me. I felt I served very well today, especially on important points. The next match, against Sascha, will be very difficult, and the serve will be absolutely fundamental for both of us. The court is evolving here; when I first played on it, it felt slow, but now it’s quite fast. It’s changing day by day, becoming a little quicker as the surface wears down. This means the first shots are crucial. We are dealing with two different ball conditions – new balls versus used balls – so managing the serve effectively is paramount.
The atmosphere and support in the arena felt powerful, with massive enthusiasm from the crowd. How much do you register this strong backing from the fans during the match, and does it provide an extra boost?
Jannik Sinner: Absolutely. I feel that the atmosphere here is incredibly beautiful. There are so many people, a huge amount of enthusiasm, and it’s great to have the support of so many Italian fans here. We try to do our job as well as possible, and I am very satisfied knowing that I have that support behind me. It certainly helps.
Given the nature of the ATP Finals and the high-stakes round-robin format, do you follow the other group matches more closely than you would at other tournaments? What is your approach to monitoring the rest of the field?
Jannik Sinner: Honestly, our focus is almost entirely internal. We are watching very few other matches right now. Obviously, you know the results – you’re here, and you see them everywhere online – but we are highly concentrated on our own work and preparation. We are not shifting our practice schedule to watch a tennis match. I might look at a match afterward, perhaps watching key points or important sequences, as I enjoy seeing those. But I’m not following live; I don’t want to expend energy on things that are not directly in my control. What happens, happens. The truth is, I don’t know what the outcome of this tournament will be, and in that sense, it’s not completely in my hands. I’m simply giving 200% effort. I am happy with the level I showed tonight, and that is what matters most. I am looking at my game, building on the experience this tournament gave me last year, and I will try to go as far as possible.
