J. SINNER/H. Rune
6-2, 5-7, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Let's go straight to questions.
Q. A question about the walk-on tonight. You had a good moment with the mascot. Could you share with us what he said to you? In general, how nice is it to give these kids the experience of walking onto court with you?
JANNIK SINNER: Unfortunately, when I was young I was not following that much tennis. But I think it's a really nice moment for young kids going on the court with the best players in the world.
He was a funny, funny kid. Funny moment. Said, Let's go, let's go, Jannik. We are all rooting for you.
It was really nice. Getting these young, young kids the opportunity to go also not only with the player but seeing the court from inside and then everything, it's really nice.
I think it also makes it special for the players. Walking on alone, we have so many times in the year that we walk on alone. Here is a little bit different with the mascot, so it's nice.
Q. You have improved a lot mentally over the last year. Could you tell me how did you work on it?
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I'm working a little bit with it's called Formula Medicine. The boss is Riccardo Ceccarelli. He was here. He was in the box also tonight. He has been here also the match with Novak.
It is a little bit different because you don't talk one to one, but you make certain - how you say - on the computer you make exercises and they calculate how much of your brain you used and everything, then they help you to make it as automatic as possible with using less time and less brain.
It's a little bit different because you see the mental coaches that you talk one to one and you try to find a solution. This is a little bit different because you are working on these things and you have to understand what happened and why and everything.
We are working with him already some years now. I feel that I have improved. Obviously stepping on the court, it is a little bit different still. But I think we are making a good process.
Q. Jannik, you obviously knew that you had qualified before the match. Still how satisfying was tonight, considering that you've now beaten two players you'd never beaten before? Physically, how are you? There was a suggestion you were feeling your back a little bit during the match.
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, was in the second set a little bit, but it went away. That one motion I made, I felt a little, little click. It went away. It's all good with my body.
It was important for me to reset after this good win against Novak, starting from zero again, being ready for a tough fight against Holger. I never won against him. It's nice that I won at least once against him. He's an incredible player, serving really good.
I started off really well. From the second set he served better. It was obviously much, much tougher to break him. I think it was a good win, positive win. Let's see what's coming on Saturday.
Q. It's a privilege to play in a great event in tennis in front of your home crowd. Can you describe how demanding it is, how special it is, what it brings in terms of motivation but also pressure?
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it is special, for sure. I mean, as you said, it's a huge privilege to be here. It's in Italy. It's obviously a little bit of pressure more, but it is kind of a positive pressure. I like to be in this situation.
I think until now, in this moment, I managed it really well. Hopefully I can keep going like this. I think the crowd, they give me a lot of strength, especially when I'm struggling on the court a little bit. It's just nice to step on the court.
Now I have the chance to go two more matches there. Even if you lose Saturday, Sunday is another chance. Obviously if you win Saturday, the final is on Sunday.
It's nice that I had the chance to play five matches here. It's a special place. Yeah, hopefully I can keep going with the level that I playing. Let's see what's coming.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports