THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2026

Shintaro Mochizuki

Press Conference

J. SINNER/S. Mochizuki

6-3, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Appreciate a difficult loss, but if you could you sum up the match for us this evening.

SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI: Yeah, I mean, I think it was a great match against Jannik Sinner on Centre Court. I mean, I thought I was going to lose, like, easily. I think I played well. And I think it was a close match, despite losing 3-0.

I did my best and I gave everything, so... I have no regrets.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did you exceed your expectations on what you thought you'd do against Jannik? What does that tell you about what you're capable of doing against top players and how your game can hurt them?

SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI: Yeah, I felt much better on court than I thought before I played. I knew what I had to do. I just focused on myself, not thinking I'm playing against someone who's No. 1 in the world. I just kept my focus. That worked, I think, because that is the only thing I can do. That can hurt him, I think, a little bit.

But at the end he served well, so I couldn't break any games. That cost me a lot. But still I think I played well and I had some chances, too. I think, yeah, it was close.

Q. Can you carry me through what was on your mind the hours and the minutes before actually stepping on Centre Court of Wimbledon for this match.

SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI: Like I said, I thought I was losing easily before I stepped onto the court (smiling). I was speaking with my coach just to win one game is enough. Because that's how I think mentally. It's better because you don't think about the future, you just try your best at the moment.

So I won the first game of the match, I was, like, almost laughing (laughter).

Yeah, I mean, I felt nervous, but also at the same time I had no idea how to walk to the Centre Court. I was, like, just following everybody. I had no idea what I was thinking (laughter).

Q. I asked Jannik about having to play a very different player with a volley game. What have you learnt about your style of play after playing the world No. 1 on the greatest tennis court on earth?

SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI: It definitely gave me a lot of confidence playing against world No. 1 on this beautiful court. This is my first time playing on Centre Court at any slam, so...

Like I said, if I focus on myself and do what I need to do and focus one point at a time, like, I can do something, even against Jannik Sinner. I saw him struggle a little bit on my balls 'cause the balls were low, and he had to lift them up.

He served well, so it was hard. Yeah, I think I did my best. I had some chances, like I said. I think that is what I can take from this match. I'll take all the confidence from this one, yeah.

Q. It feels like you have a special relationship with Wimbledon. You won juniors here. Given the performances over the last week or so, do you feel like you can come back here next year and do very well again, have a crack at the tournament?

SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI: I don't know. I mean, nobody knows about the future, so we can't say anything like what I can do next year.

Of course, I mean, grass is my favorite surface to play on. I'm excited to come back next year. Hard court season is coming up. I'm physically okay, but tired also. I just want to go back home and recover as much as possible for the next tournament. And let's see how I do next year on grass.

I'm excited for next year, yeah.