AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2026

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/L. Darderi

6-1, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Jannik, what were you most pleased about tonight's performance?

JANNIK SINNER: Yes, I felt like it was a really solid performance. I served very well. Playing against Luciano was the first time in an official match. I was looking forward to.

Things got tight in the end, but I'm very happy how I handled it.

Q. It was hot out there again, but no sun on the court. Everything all right after the other day?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, yesterday was a very, very easy day for me. Just played for nearly half an hour. Yeah, I mean, it's definitely a bit different when there is no sun, even if it's quite warm outside still.

But yeah, it's also different opponent. Everything is different in every day. So I felt quite good out there physically. Everything was okay today. Let's see what's coming in the next round.

Q. As someone who likes to play attacking tennis, being on the front foot, preferably on the baseline, how much do you think about court position, where you are in relation to the baseline, in matches or practice?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, of course we try to prepare the match in one way. Things got very different from the third set on, for example. He was serving much better. I couldn't return as much as in the first couple of sets.

Yeah, I mean, of course you try to understand where he is going to play. Of course, there is a certain percentage. If you play cross-court or you play down the line, you know a little bit. In the same time, if I would lose the first couple of sets, I also would change like he did today. It gets a bit more unpredictable.

Q. That was your first time on Margaret Court Arena for a couple years. How did you find it? Was it nice to be out there?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, for me, every court here is very nice. I'm very happy also to go on Margaret Court. I felt like the third set was a bit different because it also got a bit later. The court slows down a bit. From 7:30 on it's a bit different. But this I feel like it's in every court. I don't know how the outside courts are, for example, without the stadiums around.

But all things considered, it's more or less the same. Of course, it might feel a bit faster because the court itself is a bit smaller than Rod Laver. The same thing in Roland Garros if you play in Chatrier or in Lenglen. I feel like it also depends how much space you have around to move.

But I didn't feel so much difference, to be honest.

Q. About the fitness tracker, the thing you had on. I presume you didn't know they were banned. Talk about what happened. Now you know they are banned, do you know why they are banned by the slams?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, there is certain data what we would like to track a little bit on court. It's not for the live thing. It's more about you can see after the match. These are datas what we would like to use also in practice sessions because from that you can practice on with the heart rate, how much calories you burn, all these kind of things.

Yeah, I mean, the umpire asked me straightaway if this is the tracker. I said yes. He said remove. It's fine. There are other things we could use. It's the vest. But it's a bit for me uncomfortable. You feel like you have something on the shoulders. It's a bit different.

But rules are rules. I understand. I won't use it again.

Q. I know this isn't something you'd be worrying about right now, but Novak Djokovic having the walkover into the quarterfinal, how much of an advantage can that be at the end of a Grand Slam?

JANNIK SINNER: I don't know. I'm in quarterfinals now. I have a very tough match the next one, as Novak has. There are positives and negatives. In this sport it can happen.

He always had quite fast matches also. At times it can also break a little bit the rhythm. In the same time it can give you a bit more energy than the opponent. It depends.

I think nothing really changed. I'll watch on my side. I have a tough match in front of my eyes, which is a very tough quarterfinals if it's Casper or Ben. I'll focus on that. If I'm in semis, I'm very happy. If not, it was a great Grand Slam for me.