Sinner, overwhelmed by the support in Turin: "I'm just a 23-year-old guy who plays tennis"

The local hero is one step away from the semis in the 2024 ATP Finals being held in his country, where Jannik wants to succeed and bring joy to his fans.

Mónica Barberán Munera | 12 Nov 2024 | 23.58
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Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals 2024. Photo: Getty
Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals 2024. Photo: Getty

Jannik Sinner is nailing it at the ATP Finals 2024 with two victories in the group stage, the latest against Taylor Fritz. The Italian is experiencing a great moment in his country and aims to qualify for the semifinals pending his final match against Medvedev. In a press conference after his triumph over the American, the world number 1 talked about the complexity of the match and what it means to play at home in this "very special" tournament.

- Match Feelings

“It was a match of very high level. I think we both played great tennis and it was a completely different match from the first one. I don't want to compare, but this was a very tough match, so I'm very happy for the victory.”

- Missed Masters 1000 in Rome

“Playing in Italy is different. The crowd is incredible, they support you in good times and bad, and I like that. I didn't play in Rome, which for me was a tough challenge, but I wasn't physically prepared. Now I'm here 12 months after the last time I played in Italy, and I'm enjoying it. This tournament is a bit different from the rest because you have to qualify to play. You already have a good position by qualifying and all the matches are difficult.”

- Are you still surprised by your impact? Seeing Italy covered with your face, for example

“It surprises me. I'm just a 23-year-old guy who plays tennis. I have some sponsors and their headquarters are here, like Lavazza and Intensa. They are from here, I love the family of my sponsors and the connection I have with them. Playing in Italy for an Italian is very special, and you should never take anything for granted. I still surprise myself sometimes. It's not that everything is normal, but I try to get used to it. I just try to play good tennis on the court, which is why I'm here.”

- Have you noticed differences in the players' attitude towards you on the court since becoming world number 1?

“Of course, there are always differences. I always say that each match is different in some way. It doesn't matter when you last played against them. I've also been in that position when playing against the world number 1. You go to the court and you don't have much to lose, it's normal. It's also different because there are players who have beaten me before, and you don't think whether it's number 1, 2, or 3. You just go by the knowledge of previous encounters and try to improve as a player. That's what I try to do with all my opponents. I try to stay very present, not thinking about the past or the future. This is a very present sport where you have to watch out for what's happening right now.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner, abrumado con el apoyo en Turín: "Solo soy un chico de 23 años que juega a tenis"