THE MODERATOR: Jannik, welcome back to Tennis Paradise. Just tell us how your preparation is going for the tournament.
JANNIK SINNER: My preparation is going really well. It's a special place. Obviously missing out last year, it makes it even more special, and we'll hope for a great tournament.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Ever since you released your YouTube Channel vlog, a lot of other players have done something very similar. How has that been going for you, sharing your story with your fans? How do you see that progressing over time?
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I feel like fans, you know, they don't know exactly how we are as a person, so this helps also to show how I am off the courts. I think it's something great.
Me personally, I love to watch also other YouTube videos from other sports people, and yeah, you know, it's of course something different. You have behind my team what makes it by itself. You know, I don't have to worry about anything else.
But in the same time, it's nice to show something outside of tennis. You know, at times how we practice or what other stuff I love to do outside, outside of tennis courts. I think it's nice, but at the same time obviously the main priority is always to play tennis, and that's what I love to do.
Q. Entering this time of year, is there anything in particular you're focused on in your game? Is it just everything? How do you sort of arrange your focus?
JANNIK SINNER: I don't know. I think we are always trying to progress with our games. I feel like we are doing a great job. It has been a very hard practice week here for me. We spent many, many hours of practice.
Very happy with how I'm feeling on the court, and obviously we try to go as far as possible in the tournament. In the same time, we also try to improve a couple of things. I'm trying to be slightly more aggressive at times on the baseline, and then we see how it goes.
Q. How do you view the season so far?
JANNIK SINNER: The season was good. I mean, semis in Australia and in Doha what happened, but I'm very happy how and what mental moment I am in.
As I said, you know, we try to maximize our potential. Season has just started, so it's very important couple of tournaments for me before going on the clay. I know that. But I feel good to play some good tennis, and as I said, now we see how it goes.
Q. How do you keep focused when there is world events like a war in Iran and players that were in Dubai and unable to travel or en route now, perhaps? Does that affect your ability to focus and prepare?
JANNIK SINNER: You know, there are certain things we cannot control really, and this is definitely one of them. I do think and believe that ATP and everyone is trying to do the best possible choices, to feel as safe as possible, and that's the only thing I can say really, no?
I obviously hope that everyone is safe and they can come here to play or also to go home. It depends what they want to do.
But, you know, there are certain scenarios we cannot control, so I tried of course to be focused, but you also realize that there are much more important things in life than playing tennis, you know. Yeah, I do believe we have good protection around us, being as a player, and I hope other players feel the same way.
Q. When you talked about, from the first question, wanting to show other parts of your personality, other sides of you outside of being just being a professional tennis player, how hard is it to have a side that is not connected to tennis? Like finding hobbies, things that can distract you from the time on court? Is it hard to kind of have things that aren't tennis-related?
JANNIK SINNER: No, no, it's not hard. For me, the most important is always to have good people around me, because this already gives you loads of stability, you know, in your life, in your personal life, in the life we live in, which is at times quite hectic. So the only thing you want to do is just, you know, staying at home and do something very, very relaxed.
In the same time, I also need some other things to do, if it's playing golf or driving a car or anything else, playing some PlayStation, and just living also the life of a 24-year-old. I know that these days they are very, very rare, because I do sacrifice a lot to be in the position where I am, but it is important just to surround yourself with good people, people who understand how you are as a person. I think this already gives you so many positive things.
Q. There has been a lot of conversation around Nike's kits lately, and we have seen you adjust certain elements in Australia. How involved are you in giving feedback to Nike on what you wear and what are the elements that matter to you?
JANNIK SINNER: Honestly, I think Nike is doing an incredible job, because they have so many athletes and so many different things they need to think about, but in the same time, I like what I'm wearing.
There was more a question of not being as dark because of the sun. I had some problems with Spizzirri at some points, having cramps, and we realized that I was wearing quite dark colors, and that's the reason we changed a bit in white.
Look, we change so many times the outfits throughout the whole year. Basically every couple of tournaments we have new outfits, so it's also not easy to always have, you know, something what looks perfect in that court, but in the same time, I believe, you know, there is such a big team behind to make great outfits.
So we're getting more involved next year, but in the same time, I think they are doing a great, great job.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports