✸ this sideblog is a collection of jannik sinner photos, videos, interviews and other content that i like, past or recent
✸ all sources are linked at the end of each post, or stated in the description if there is no permanent link e.g. instagram stories
✸ all tournaments will be tagged as [tournament] [yyyy], e.g. #rome open 2026
✸ i don’t use generative ai at all, especially to remove watermarks, and i don’t condone the use of it. similarly, if i accidentally post ai content, please do let me know!
✸ i do not own any of the content posted. this was made to share with everyone on sinnerblr/tennisblr, and, selfishly, to tickle my organisational brain 😊
Disclaimer: I do not own the audio. All credits to Ben Rothenberg. This was posted with the intention of sharing with fans.
Image Source
Transcript below the cut:
Key: J.S. = Jannik Sinner, Q = Journalists. Quotes from Jannik are highlighted in bold.
J.S.: “—1000, now I am 130 [in the world]. To realise it, it’s not so easy, but I feel comfortable.”
Q: “What do you think is the biggest lesson you’ve learned during the whole progress you’ve made?”
J.S.: “I think, mentally, I was always trying to improve my game, and that helped me to playing, now, a higher level. And then, of course, I have a very good team behind me. I have Riccardo Piatti, which is following me when I’m in the [Piatti Tennis] Center, or here when he’s with Borna Coric, so I have a very good team, and I think that’s going to help me to going... hopefully quite far in my career.”
Q: “You’ve played a lot of different people in the draw, you find out later in the day who you play. I’m curious if you have anyone you particularly want, do you have any wishes for your first Grand Slam match?”
J.S.: “Look, honestly, it doesn’t matter. For me, it doesn’t matter, because I just want to focus about me. If I play against Roger, it will be very great because, as I said before, I’m here for making experience, and I think this match against Roger could help me. Even if I lose, I think it’s... Let’s say, it can help me in the future to go a little bit faster, if I’m going to grow.”
Q: “In your 2nd match here, you were down 5-2 in the 3rd set, and then you won. Did you always believe you would win that match?”
J.S.: “Yeah, and, you know, it was just 1 break, and he had the match point when I was serving, and I just wanted to keep him... that he would serve for the match, and yeah. It worked because he was not serving so good, I think he made 2 double faults [at] 5-4, and then I was serving a little bit better, and, you know, these kind of matches are very important, and maybe the match of the 2nd round helped me today, to find my game. But I’m very happy.”
Q: “The progress you’re making this year, and having now qualified for your 1st slam, are things happening at the speed you thought would happen, or do you feel it’s happening quicker? How is this experience going for you?”
J.S.: “I think...watching about the ranking is going quicker than we was thinking about, honestly, but I will go with: there’s always [room] to improve my game, and I think that’s our 1st goal. We are doing it very well, in this case, so, yeah, let’s see what’s going to happen in this tournament.”
Q: “In Wimbledon qualifying, you lost a really tough, long match to Bolt. Just curious how that helped you come into this tournament.”
J.S.: “I lost a very tough one against him. It was not easy, at that moment, honestly, but fortunately I played against him in Lexington, in the final, so it was a kind of revenge. For me, I was playing better in Wimbledon, so it means that this sport is really important - how are you mentally, and I think this is what I’m doing—especially this season—very good. Even if sometimes I’m a little bit nervous, but I think it’s normal for a young kid.”
Q: “You’ve travelled a lot around the US this summer, you’ve not spent this much time in the US before, going to Binghamton, Lexington, all these other places most people, most Italians, would never go to. I’m curious, what has this trip been like for you?”
J.S.: “Because we decided to go in America to improve our game on hard court, and don’t think about the ranking. You know, at the end, if you are going to be on top, you will play Montreal, Cincinnati you know, so we just was pushing to playing in the same continent where the big tournaments are, and I think that’s the first goal.”
Q: “Did you enjoy it? What did you think of the... what was your trip like—”
Q: “Was it your first time in the US?”
J.S.: “Yes... no! I think I was once in Miami, but many times ago, so. What was the question, sorry?”
Q: “What did you think of your trip? I mean, how did you enjoy—what does Jannik Sinner do in Kentucky?”
J.S.: [laughs] “Look, honestly, was not easy, because in Italy there were very good tournaments, you know? And, I think for Italians, especially for young Italians, it’s easy to play in Italy with the crowd, which is always with you, it’s cheering for you. You know, it was not easy because, like, the final in Lexington, there were 2 courts near to each other, and we was playing the men’s final and the women’s final in the same time, you know? Sometimes, the ball came, so, you know, it was not easy, and even in Big-hAm-ton it was not easy: uptoss was completely different because there was a little bit cold, and even if it’s in California, I’ve [?] in California, it was warm but it was not. It was not easy, but at the end I’m very happy that I’ve done this tournament.”
Q: “Do you think it made you stronger?”
J.S.: “Yeah, I think so. I think so, yeah.”
Q: “You didn’t play a lot of Juniors, did you?”
J.S.: “Let’s say that I decided to not play Juniors, and even my team said, ‘okay, if you don’t want to, we are not going to push you’. I think it’s... sometimes [players need to make] decisions, and I think that was the right decision. I think [that’s] one reason why I’m here now, [at] 18 years [old], and I can play in the main draw of the US Open. Because I [was always] searching for the players who played better than me, and I was playing with 15, 16 [year olds] always in Futures, and then we came slowly to Challengers. I was trying always to play a higher level than I was, and fortunately I have a very great team in which [they] sometimes can ask for Wildcards so I can play the tournaments which I want.”
Q: “So, while everyone your age is playing Juniors, you were focusing on Futures more?”
J.S.: “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Q: “It’s a special time for Italian tennis, because you, Zeppieri, Musetti, are all 17, 18 years old. Do you see what they’re doing and if Giulio [Zeppieri] has a good result or Lorenzo has a good result, do you—”
J.S.: “I am checking everything, honestly.”
Q: “Are you close with them?”
J.S.: “No, no. We are not so close because we’re playing different tournaments, so, you know, we don’t know [each other very well], but I’m checking out everything and I know everything—where they are playing, and what time, everything.”
Q: “So, how important is it for Italian tennis to have you three as teenagers coming up?”
J.S.: “I think it’s very important, but even in the higher level like Berrettini, Sonego, we are now in a very high... many players are playing very good tennis this year, and I think if there are many young generation in Italy, it’s very important. But at the end, everyone is focusing about himself, so. But, I’m very happy how it’s going with Italian tennis.”
Q: “Whether it’s Borna [Coric] or one of the Italians, any of those guys, has anyone given you a specific piece of advice that’s really stayed with you?”
J.S.: “I was. Me and Seppi, we know [each other] pretty well. Sometimes, I’m asking how it is to play on this court or some information, but they are not giving me so many information, let’s say like this.”
Q: “Besides players who are higher ranked, or better players, what are some of the trickier parts that you had to adapt to or adjust to, or things that were unexpected to you when you stepped up to the Challenger circuit, playing the pro guys on tour?”
J.S.: “You know, in the beginning of the year, I remember when Musetti and Zeppieri was playing, they were playing in Australia, and they were making very good results, and I was in Tunisia to play the ITF, and I was playing, actually very, very bad. You know, sometimes it’s not easy, but as I said before, I made this decision, even if in that moment it was not easy, but I think that made me stronger.”
Q: “One person who said they were following your results was Maria Sharapova, who’s been training with Piatti also, I’m curious if you got to meet her at all?”
J.S.: “Ahh, I remember! I remember yesterday when I finished the match, she wrote to Riccardo and said: ‘good job’. I think even her, she is checking out quite everything. I don’t know her very well ’til now, but if I have a chance to speak with her, I speak with her, because she won a Grand Slam [at] 17. I think she is a very strong person, and I’m just trying to speak with her if I have time and if she has time.”
Q: “So, you never hit with her or anything?”
J.S.: “No, no, I never hit ’til now.”
Q: “Do you want to?”
J.S.: [Long pause] “Okay.” [laughs]
Q: “Do you think there are any disadvantages to turning pro early, in your teens?”
J.S.: “I think the disadvantage is if you are deciding to go on a higher level and you don’t have the level, I think it’s better to stay in Juniors, but I think my team always saw me, that I have this level to compete, so they let me do what I want.”
Q: “When did you join Piatti? What was that like?”
J.S.: “I was 13 and a half, 14 years [old]. Before, I was not playing very much, so it was like a changeover, you know? Because I was skiing a little bit... I was practicing [tennis] just twice in one week, so it was a little bit strange in the beginning, but I always liked to play tennis, and, yeah.”
Q: “That’s pretty recent, though, that you said you were skiing and then you switched over. When did you start dreaming of becoming a pro tennis player?”
J.S.: “That’s a good question, honestly. I always watched, you know, Roger and Rafa and Novak, and the big stars, you know? And, I remember when I came to Riccardo and he saw me in that moment, I felt like, okay, he was seeing a very good player and I think that helped me to focus about more tennis and tennis, and then, one time I didn’t want to go skiing, and then the only sport which I was focusing about [was] tennis, and, yeah. And when I [was] 14 years [old], [this is] now the fifth year where I’m playing just tennis.”
Q: “So, at the beginning, was skiing your favourite, more so than tennis?”
J.S.: “Yeah, yeah, yeah, it was, it was. I remember when I was 7, I didn’t play for one year, I didn’t touch the racket, and I was playing more football, but, before it was skiing, my main sport.”
Q: “What has been the main reaction to you, as you’re getting up this level, what do the main guys make of you, you being a 17 year old winning Challengers, and—”
J.S.: “18 now.” [laughs]
Q: “18 now, well you were 17 when you won [???], and qualifying now here, do you think they’re surprised by you, they ever seen an Italian with red hair before—”
J.S.: [laughs]
Q: “—how do they react?”
J.S.: “Let’s say, I think everyone is happy, especially in Italy, because having an 18 years old kid playing in a main draw of a Grand Slam is, I think, a quite big thing, you know? But our goal is not to play just the Grand Slams, but maybe wants to go far. But, you know, that need time. It’s need time. We have many more years to improve our game, and you know, and then we will see how far we can go.”
Q: “Do you feel ready to play best of 5?”
J.S.: “I never tried, but I feel ready.”
Q: “More recently, it was the Italian women who had bigger success, so I’m curious for you, what it would mean for you to kind of get the men there, now?”
J.S.: “It was one year which I remember that the men’s Italian tennis was not good, and now it’s like the opposite. At the end, the best players are going to be the main part, you know? As always. And I want to be the best player, not only in Italy, but maybe once I can say that I’m the best player in the world, so. But as I said before, it takes time, but honestly, I’m not thinking about this.”
Q: “Are people surprised to find out you’re Italian when you meet them?”
J.S.: “Yes, yes, they are. They are. They are.”
Q: “The hair, or—?”
J.S.: “Yeah, no, no, yeah, the hair and even the name, you know? It’s ‘Jannik Sinner’ is not Italian, you know? It’s kind of Austrian, because we are near to Austria, South Tyrol is near to Austria, so.”
Q: “So, is German your first language?”
J.S.: “German is first language, Italian and then English.”
Q: “English is good. Never heard the other two but I’ve heard Italian, but your English is good.”
J.S.: [laughs] “I’m trying to improve.” [laughs again]
Q: “When you were playing 2 times a week, was it just another sport?”
J.S.: “You know, when I went on court, just 2 times in a week, I really enjoyed it, you know? I just tried to enjoy... It was just fun, but now it’s a little bit more than fun. Now it’s fun, but you want to go a little bit further, you know? And I think it’s very important.”
Q: “Is there any particular player who inspired you the most, or who you follow the most?”
J.S.: “I’m watching many matches now, but I have not a player which I said, ‘okay, I want to be like this, or like this’. I think every player is a little bit different, and yeah. Yeah, that’s it. Every player has to play his game, you know? And I think that’s the most important thing.”
Q: “What is the vision that you see for yourself for your game, and how you wish to see it develop?”
J.S.: “You know, I think after few years, I would like to serve good, and playing, you know, maybe at 30-all, you just serve and you know, you make the point a little bit easier. Not like today where at the end, I have to play always the point, you know. But I think we are doing a great job.”
Venus Williams about Jannik Sinner's Round 2 loss at Roland Garros:
“One of the biggest stories of the tournament was Sinner suffering from whatever happened on the court: heat, or cramps, and all the things.
“So, Sinner has never won a match longer than 3 hours and 50 minutes. So, what? He's done everything else. In my opinion, it's more of a fluke than a real stat. Not only insane conditions, but he dealt with it with his head up. He never quit, he never walked off of the court, he never considered stopping. And even [though] that was the worst circumstances, not only does he handle winning well, he handled losing with such grace and such poise.”
