US OPEN

August 30, 2025

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/D. Shapovalov

5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We're not used to seeing you in a match quite like that in recent months where it's close and you're actually behind. What sort of challenges was he posing, and what were you struggling with when you were at one set all and 3-Love?

JANNIK SINNER: Well, it's normal, you know. You cannot always go, you know, with the score line easy. Every match is so difficult. Every challenge is so difficult. Then there are players that have more qualities or potential, you know, and he's one of them.

I mean, you know, when he serves very well and he has very clean groundstrokes, physically very strong, you know, he has everything to hurt, you know, players. So I knew that. I also knew that before the match.

I mean, I was in a very difficult moment today. You know, the score line was a bit against me today, but, you know, I just tried to stay there mentally. Obviously very happy to manage to win today, because it was a very important win.

Q. You said that every match is so difficult. Is today kind of a reminder of why a tournament like this is so challenging to defend? It can get hot, you can play an opponent who's hot.

JANNIK SINNER: You mean like today's match, or...

Q. Yeah, does it remind maybe not you but everyone else that it's not easy to defend a title like this, that you can come up against...

JANNIK SINNER: No, I'm not thinking about this, you know, because you go day by day, you know. Every day you have one opponent. You just try to play your best tennis possible.

It's a very long way to say that you can defend a title. You know, we are nearly -- now I can say that I'm in the second week, which is already a great result, and then we see what comes next.

Yeah, I mean, you practice for these kind of matches. You know, you practice in trying to get through very tough moments or situations on the court and trying to find solutions. At the end of the day, that's the tennis, you know.

It was a great match, I feel like, from both sides. It was a bit of roller coaster. But I'm obviously very happy.

Q. In the next round you might play Tommy Paul. You played him here last year. What would you say are the most difficult, most challenging aspects of his game and how you match up?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, they still have to play. You know, everything can happen. Big respect for both players. Bublik, he was not losing since long time. You know, winning against him, it's very, very difficult. So first I want to see who wins. You know, I think it goes on respect for Bublik. But if you ask me about Tommy, it's obviously very difficult with the home crowd he has.

Let's see what's coming. We had very, very tough battles in the past. He's a very fast player. You know, he knows to do everything. So let's see what's coming.

If it's Bublik, it's a bit different. He won the last encounter against me on grass. So let's see what's coming. Obviously a big, big server and very unpredictable. So let's see.

Q. I wondered, very few players outside of Carlos have really pushed you at the slams of late. Obviously Denis did today and Grigor did at Wimbledon. Wonder what it was they have done well and how they have made you a bit uncomfortable on court?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, serving very well, pushing a lot. And also, I'm not a machine, you know (smiling). I also struggle sometimes.

Today I felt like from my side I didn't struggle. I was playing great tennis, and he also. And then the match is there.

Yeah, as I always say, when I go in matches, I just want to feel well prepared. If I feel like that, for me, it's a good feeling stepping on court, because I feel safe about my weapons kind of, but in the other way, match is always different than the practice hit or however you feel like.

You just have to stay there mentally. Of course, as I said before, Denis is an incredible player. He has shown this over and over again. He won two titles this year. He is in good shape, good form, I think we saw this today. Serving very well, returning well, you know, and then everything can happen.