MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 1, 2026

Jannik Sinner

Press Conference

J. SINNER/A. Fils

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: A few questions in English, and then a few in Italian. First question?

Q. You can win your first Masters here in Madrid on Sunday. How are you feeling?

JANNIK SINNER: I don't know. First, I'm happy about today. Tomorrow is a relax day, and I don't think too much about the final ahead. I'm of course very happy to play first final here. It means a lot to me. It has been an amazing tournament again. But whatever comes out Sunday, in any case it has been a great tournament again.

Q. You've been using your variety really well, like your dropshot, forehand dropshot, like against Jodar, all those break points, and today as well. Curious, how do you feel about that side of your game?

JANNIK SINNER: Yeah, it's definitely a part of my game where I'm trying to improve, and I try to use it in the right time. So, yeah, definitely here it's a little bit more difficult, the ball flies a little bit more. But I'm at the moment very happy how I'm using it.

Also from the backhand side I tried to mix it up in a good way in important moments. It has been quite efficient, yeah, up until now.

Q. We see that you are using a lot of dropshots. Is it because Alcaraz is not here, or it's because you are using it in Madrid to stop the ball?

JANNIK SINNER: No, it's a part of the game where I'm trying to improve. Of course, I'm definitely not at the level of Carlos, that's for sure. I'm still trying, you know. It's good for my game, trying to mix it up.

Q. How is your body holding up, and how is your energy level? You were saying the other day you were pretty, feeling pretty tired, you played a lot of tennis the last couple months. Curious where you are now, and if you have any concerns about getting enough rest between Sunday, and then Rome coming up pretty quickly.

JANNIK SINNER: Well, Rome is then different again, you know. For me, I'm trying to recover very much in the night sleep. This night has been a very good sleep for me, a lot of hours, and felt quite fresh this morning. But, yeah, look, I've played a lot in the last one and a half months, going very, very deep in tournaments. It's a good sign, of course, and at the same time you tend to get a little bit more tired. I think and I believe, when you play big match, semifinals, quarterfinals, finals, you know, there is also adrenaline a little bit what pushes me.

And then in between here and Rome I try to recover again as much and then we see.

Q. How do you maintain your very strong level of focus and mental strength, even when the audience sometimes is cheering more for the opponent? Novak had a technique that he doesn't hear what they say, he thinks that they're cheering for Novak, not for Rafa or somebody. What is your crucial point of your mental stability, because you don't exchange emotions much.

JANNIK SINNER: I think everyone is different. Novak handled it very, very well, of course I think the best. But for me, I have, I don't have a technique. For me, honestly, I'm just happy to be part of a match. People come to see good tennis, and sometimes people, they're not against you, they just want to see a little bit more tennis. So I also understand them and, yeah, that's it.

Look, I try to stay also calm in pressure moments and very tough moments, so this is just how I am. It doesn't mean this is good or bad, you know, I think everyone is different. But, yeah, the crowd can give you a lot of positives. Me, when I play in Italy, it means a lot to me. I always say you have an extra shot, you know, playing with the crowd.

But, honestly, also when I played against Rafael here it was a nice atmosphere. I think they are very, very fair towards me, and that's something what I really appreciate.

Q. Your ability to smash the clutch point is absolutely commendable. We saw that against Norrie; we saw that against Jodar, the seven break points saved; and we saw that today as well during crucial points when it was 30-All, that serve, when you were able to snatch that point. Wondering, like, what goes on in your head when you're facing a high-pressure point? Do you play it like any other point, do you rely on your weapons?

JANNIK SINNER: No, I like to play with the gut feeling. And that's what I feel in that moment, and I just try to go for it, honestly. There is no real key. I think I would rather go for it and miss a ball than waiting for the opponent to miss. I've always been like this. Obviously not every time you can play like this, it's also depending how you feel. Yeah, this is just how I see it.

Q. Before today's match both you and Arthur were undefeated on clay this season. So my question is, did the fact that he also, he was also unbeaten on this surface add you extra pressure today?

JANNIK SINNER: No, there's no extra pressure. I think every tournament is different. Every situation we play in is different. Today in the first set it was a bit windy, then after it was normal wind. So, you know, he's playing some incredible tennis, especially on this surface. Very physical. He deserves everything he's got.