An interview with:
JANNIK SINNER
THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Jannik Sinner. We'll go straight to questions.
Q. Curious how the body is feeling, how the mind is feeling ahead of Beijing and what your hopes are for the week.
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, it's again great to be back in a tournament. After the US Open, the body's in good shape. Mind also. Had some good time off after US Open.
Yeah, we are preparing ourself in the best possible way. Of course, first round is never easy in any tournament. So let's see what I can do tomorrow. But in everything, I'm very happy to be back again. Hopefully to play some good tennis.
But we try to prepare ourself in the best possible way. Obviously I'm very looking forward to play again here in China and we see how it goes.
Q. Last week during the Laver Cup, Roger Federer on Andy Roddick's podcast suggested tournaments should change up their court speeds to allow for some higher-stakes competition, which forces players like yourself and Carlos to figure out on the spot. Is this something you would be in favor of? Do you agree the current conditions make every week the same? How does that factor into you wanting to be more unpredictable on the court?
JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I feel like we have three big changes, which is hard court, clay and grass, which has always been like this.
The hard courts, they are at times very similar. At times there are some small changes, couple of changes. One tournament that comes up a bit is Indian Wells because the ball bounces very high. It's a bit different how the ball reacts with the court.
But yeah, if not, we have more or less similar game situations on the court, yes. This is how it is already since a long time, like this. I don't know if there is going to be a change or not.
I'm just a player who tries to adapt myself in the best possible way. I feel like I'm doing a good job in this. But let's see what the future can give us in every tournament.
Q. Back to the US Open. You were so honest and candid after the loss about the talk of wanting to add unpredictability to your game. Carlos had said, Yeah, we had a training block dedicated to getting better at dealing with Jannik's name. A lot of honesty from two rivals. How long had you been thinking about where your game was stacking up against Carlos', where you needed to improve, even before the US Open final?
JANNIK SINNER: Well, you know, the situation of what I've been through throughout this year has not been easy, starting with great run in Australia obviously. Afterward whatever happened happened.
I didn't play a big amount of tournaments, too, I have to say. This is only my eighth tournament of the year, which is not much. We are heading already in the end of the year.
But in the same time, look, we've been reflecting a lot to that final. We are working on new things. We are changing a lot of small things where I'm thinking of now. The amount of mistakes at the moment is for sure a little bit higher, but I hope that this after recovers in a very positive way, no?
It's just a question of time. Let's see how long I take it. I don't know how much I'm able to do it on actual match court because one thing is practice and one thing is match. Let's see.
Yeah, I'm very motivated. It's great to work on something new, then we see how this ends up. We always try to move forward. One step in front is always better than two steps back. Let's see what we can do.
Q. You've recently added Alejandro as your permanent physio. What do you think are the biggest changes or improvements you've seen with your preparation headed into this tournament in Beijing?
JANNIK SINNER: Look, no specific changes. I mean, on the court we are changing a lot. Off the court is more or less the same.
He's a very experienced physio, obviously being on the ATP Tour for 15 years, more or less. Also before he had other tennis players, so... He has a lot of experience.
He also respects how we are as a team. It's not that he comes in and he's changing everything. If he sees that we have or could potentially improve something for my body, he's here to help. This is how it works.
But it also takes time. I've worked with him a little bit in the years when I didn't have my physio. Not as much. Obviously now having him for me, it's a huge privilege. He's super, super experienced. A very honest person, nice and kind person. He also has a family at home. He has a nice situation also off work.
Yeah, it's everything going in the right direction.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports