ROLAND GARROS

June 6, 2025

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/N. Djokovic

6-4, 7-5, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Jannik, on reaching your first Roland Garros.

Final. How difficult was it to beat Novak on a court where he hadn't lost in three years.

JANNIK SINNER: It's a very difficult challenge. I think we saw that the match was a very tough match for both of us. I tried to stay there, you know, mentally trying to play every point in the right way with the good intensity.

And, yeah, I'm very, very happy. As I said on court, it's amazing to see him still playing this kind of level he produces, and the physical shape he's in, it's amazing. So that was a very, very tough match, but I'm very happy to be in the final here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. A few years ago you told Carlos Alcaraz you hoped you would play many more games against him. Now you have already played 11 games against each other. Do you think that your rivalry with Carlos could become one day one of the greatest in the tennis history and that it could compete maybe with the big three before you?

JANNIK SINNER: Oh, it takes time. It takes time to compare us with the big three or big four, no? I think only time can tell, no, to be honest.

For sure, from my point of view, he's a player who makes me a better player. He push me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve, you know, for the next times I play against him.

Yeah, so I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries, no? This could be potentially one of these, but there are amazing players coming up. There can be so many different and other players join or one drops. You never know.

So this question, I cannot really answer, and yeah, I think we cannot compare me and Carlos with the big three.

Q. Was it crucial for you to close it out in three sets, or were you confident that physically you would probably outlast him over four or five sets?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, this is a question I also cannot answer, because, you know, when you are in this moment there, you never know what's happening, you know? If I lose the third, of course I'm up two sets to one, but things can change.

You know, the mental side can give you so much strength or also the opposite, you know, the negative part of it.

I'm very happy that I closed it in three. I was pushing a lot in the tiebreak, you know, trying to close it, but, you know, things can change very quickly. He takes a lot of energy of small things, and if I drop a little bit, you know, one break is very easy, that you get one break, and you know, then another set is gone. Then in the fifth set he has a lot of experience, no?

I don't know. I cannot answer you that question.

Q. It was a straight-sets match, but it seemed like it was very stressful at times for you. Maybe the whole time. Can you describe the kind of stress that Novak puts you and pretty much everybody else under even when it goes your way?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, of course, it's stressful, no? It's playing against Novak, playing against the best players in the world, you don't get moments where you can relax.

He makes you feel that. He makes you wait that, you know, in the way that you have to play your best tennis you can, because he can change gears so fast, you know, in one point and then he gets the energy, and things could have gone very quickly in the other way, too, you know.

But yeah, there is a lot of stress. It's important to calm down. It's important to take your time. It's important to understand the moments of the match, which I think today I made very good. You know, the mental part was in a good spot today.

But yeah, it's always very stressful (smiling).

Q. You talked there about some of the things playing Carlos has kind of elevated your game. Just wonder what in particular, if there is anything you have learnt from playing him, that you have sort of implemented yourself either to counter him or things that you want to do yourself?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, I think also Novak gave me this a little bit, to be more unpredictable at times, you know, and you have to be that, because if you're always playing the same way, at some point they understand how you play. And especially best-of-five sets, you don't win, because when someone finds a solution, then it's very difficult to get out of it.

So it's tough to say one part, you know. I feel like if I watch myself playing last year on clay and this year on clay, I have improved, which for me is the most important. So the process I am doing, it's the right one.

So, you know, hopefully in one-year time I can say the same thing. That's my main goal, and then results and everything, whatever comes, comes. But I believe that if you work hard, the end results are going to come.

Q. What is your favorite part about playing Carlos Alcaraz? Is it fun ever?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's fun and not fun, you know, (smiling). It's both ways.

But I think we, as I said before, we try to push ourself in the best possible way. I believe when there is a good match, it's also good to play, you know. It's not only to watch, but also to play. It's very special.

And the stage, it doesn't get any bigger now. Grand Slam finals against Carlos, it's a special moment for me and for him, too.

He won here last year, so let's see what's coming. But for sure, the tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a ways, because you know, we are both very young, we are both different, but talented. You know, so let's see.

Q. Do you still feel you need to prepare tactically for Carlos and analyze his game, or do you think your rivalry has arrived to the point where it doesn't matter, because you know your game so well, that it's not going to be a tactical question?

JANNIK SINNER: No, I think if you watch all the rivalries, they have all been tactical, no? You don't go on court, and you just hit the ball. You have to understand what's going on. You have to understand what's working in that day, because things can change. Maybe you prepared in one way, and it's not working, and you have to change.

It was the same today. You know, I felt like Novak was changing so many times the way he plays, and so you have to be ready. You have to be ready to counterattack. That's why it's very important to be focused, no? Because if you sleep, then, you know, the match is gone.

Q. About 20 minutes ago Novak Djokovic just said in that very seat that he maybe has played his last match in Roland Garros against you. He called it a wonderful farewell match. I'm wondering, how does that make you feel?

JANNIK SINNER: Oh, I didn't know that. Well, first of all, we hope that it's not the case, because I feel like tennis needs him in a way, because, you know, having someone different than the younger guys and my point of view, it's so nice and amazing to see him in the locker room, and then having this energy of everything. I saw him practicing yesterday, you know, or couple of days ago. You know, he's very precise in everything he does.

It's a true role model for all of us. But if that's the case, you know, I'm happy to be part of this, because it's a part of history also. And also, for me it's nice, you know, to be part of this.

But let's hope that's not the case, no? He said "maybe," so you never know.

Q. He was praising you actually and saying how fast you play and how intense you play. Is there anything at all you would say you have learned from Novak Djokovic over the years?

JANNIK SINNER: Many things, because I was lucky enough to practice with him when I was very young. In Monaco we practiced a lot. Every time when I asked questions, he answered me, you know, in a very honest way.

I think it's very nice, and people don't see how he really is. You know, I think, you know, people from outside or people who don't know him, they have a different picture of him. It's not like this.

You know, he's a very kind person. He's very helpful in times when you need, and I have learned many things from him. I feel like my game style, it's not the same, because we are different, but at times similar. So I have watched a lot with his videos. I was lucky that I could share the court with him, you know, some times ago in matches that you see things, how work, and if they work well or not.

He's very important for me as a player and also as a person. Yeah, I really appreciate his kind words, because it means that I'm most improving as a player, which as I said before, is the most important part, so yeah.