AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2026

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/H. Gaston

6-2, 6-1, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Jannik, congrats. How did you feel out there for your first official match in more than two months?

JANNIK SINNER: Yes, I was very happy. We put in a lot of work to be back on court. It felt great. Obviously not the way you want to win the match. I wish him a speedy recovery and hope it's nothing too bad.

But yeah, from my side I'm very happy to be back on court.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What were you most pleased with out there on the court today?

JANNIK SINNER: It's tough to pick one thing. I mean, for me was just a general feeling to be back competing. I've put in many, many long days in the off-season trying to become a better tennis player.

But at end of the day the most important part is to go on court and to enjoy, no? It's very special to start the season in a night session match here in a Grand Slam, the packed stadium, just trying to do your best.

I felt like he started off very well, hitting some great shots. I tried to understand his game a little bit. We've played some back a couple of years ago. Things have changed a bit. So trying to understand his game style.

Then after I tried to raise my level, which worked very well.

Q. A bit of a broader one. Can I get you to discuss the changes you've made to your serve, in particular since the US Open, why you felt they were necessary and what you've sort of done there.

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, it's not only US Open. I felt like the serve was and still is a shot where I need to improve. It's the only shot we have where we can do everything by ourselves. There is a lot of room to improve.

We changed a little bit the motion, the rhythm of the serve. Before it was a bit too fast in the beginning. Now it's a bit slower. And the toss usually was a bit more in front a bit on the right. Now it's a bit more back and over the head.

At times I still lose it. It's not a shot where I feel very safe with. But in the same time we are working on that. Yeah, it is one of if not the most important shots we have because it can give you so many great things.

Yeah, so let's see how I'm going to serve this season.

Q. Jim Courier asked you about your off-season. How much time did you spend in the mental gym this off-season, if you were working with Dr. Ceccarelli and his team, how important that is?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, I mean, we've talked, my and Riccardo, for sure. I haven't been in his gym. We are in contact trying to understand and also working on couple of things. I have my home kit with me, so whenever I need to work on, whenever I feel like I can work with that.

It goes a bit by period, you know? How I feel also and what mental statement I am in. For sure there is still some room to improve.

But yeah, I've been in contact with him consistently. It's good to have a stable person also from this point of view. He understands me now also a little bit better. By time we understand each other better. I understand his work ethic. We try to work on that.

Q. You had an exhibition match in Korea before you came to Australia. How much of an impact did it have on you preparing for your match in Australia?

JANNIK SINNER: The one in Korea?

Q. Yes.

JANNIK SINNER: It was great. I feel like most importantly to connect with people, playing again in front of many people. It was very, very nice.

I felt like the level of tennis, it was a bit different because the surface was not easy to play on. But I felt like still the level was a good level.

I also knew it's not going to impact in the start of here because the conditions and everything is very, very different.

Yeah, but it was great to see new fans and new people in Korea. I've never been. I would love to spend some more time there in the future. It's very, very nice. The people are so, so nice to me and to Carlos and to all the team.

Yeah, it was some really nice couple of days. Then we came here, of course. The priorities have changed. You try to go as far as possible here in this tournament.