Mochizuki reveals the key to his victory over Jódar and is already thinking about Sinner

Shintaro Mochizuki will be the unexpected opponent of Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon 2026 Round of 16. The Japanese delivered one of the tournament's surprises by defeating the Spanish player Rafael Jódar in a demanding four-set match and will now have the opportunity to face the world number one on Centre Court.

Far from being intimidated, Shintaro Mochizuki gave one of the most honest press conferences of the tournament. He analyzed the keys to his victory against Rafael Jódar at Wimbledon 2026, acknowledged feeling Sinner as "a celebrity," and explained the only strategy he sees as feasible to compete against the Italian. Additionally, he reflected on the very particular playing style he has developed since his junior years and why he believes grass is the perfect surface to showcase it.

Shintaro Mochizuki talks about Jódar and his plans against Sinner at Wimbledon 2026

Mochizuki dissects his match with Jódar

The Japanese player admitted that the Spaniard demanded his best from the outset and explained how he managed to turn around a match that was getting tough as the games went by. "It was an incredible match. Rafa started playing really well, especially on my serve. I wasn't serving poorly, but he was practically destroying almost all of my services.

For a good part of the match, I couldn't find any solution. It wasn't until halfway through the second set when I decided to take a bit more risk with the second serve, and I think that's when everything started to change. I began holding my serves better, which gave me peace of mind. Regarding the return, I was already playing well from the beginning, so I just tried to keep fighting.

The last point of the second set was truly crazy. I still don't know how I managed to win that last volley. It was a bit of luck. When that set ended, I was completely exhausted. I just tried to give my best, and I am very happy to have secured the victory."

Mochizuki reveals his approach against Sinner

The Japanese player will now face the biggest challenge of his career against the world number one and admitted that the situation feels as thrilling as it is strange. "It's a very odd feeling to play against Jannik here at Wimbledon. Especially this year. Before coming, I was barely winning matches, and I still don't quite understand how I managed to reach the round of 16.

I am very excited, but at the same time, it also seems strange to see myself at this stage of the tournament. I just want to continue enjoying this experience." Mochizuki also confessed that he hardly knows Sinner personally and made a very striking remark about how he will try to compete against him. "I don't know him much. He's still almost a celebrity to me. That's why I said it's strange to face him.

I am convinced he'll play very fast and try to overpower me from the first point. Honestly, I don't think I can beat him just by hitting the ball. I need to do other things to make him uncomfortable, try to distract him tactically in tennis. I want to play low balls, come up to the net a lot... I don't think he's used to facing players with this style. I think it will be an interesting match... or maybe he'll just crush me," he added with a laugh.

Shintaro, a player with a unique style

Mochizuki explained that his tennis is completely different from most players of his generation, and that identity was born through the work done with his coach during the junior years. "I believe my game is quite unique. It doesn't resemble that of others much. I hit much flatter, come to the net much more, and don't try to play like most players of my generation who hit very hard from the baseline and with a powerful serve.

I also tried to play like that for a while, but it never worked. In the end, I understood I had to find my own path. It all started when I was 14 or 15 years old. My coach at the time gradually guided me towards this style of play. Back then, I wasn't even aware; I simply enjoyed playing tennis.

When I turned professional, I changed coach, and everyone tried to make me hit harder and with more ball weight. It didn't work. That's when I realized I was different from the others. It took me two or three years to rediscover my true tennis, but now I feel I have regained that identity."

Grass, the ideal surface for Mochizuki's tennis

Despite not growing up playing on grass, the Japanese player believes that Wimbledon enhances all the virtues of his game. "We don't have grass courts in Japan. The first time I played on this surface was at 16, in the junior Wimbledon, and it was an incredible experience. I have always felt I have a good relationship with this surface. Perhaps my results here haven't been spectacular until now, but my game fits very well.

When you constantly approach the net, it's very difficult for the opponent to find angles to pass you. Additionally, my shots are quite flat and bounce very little, something that works well on grass. I also think the current grass isn't as fast as before, so I can leverage another of my strengths, which is movement and leg speed to reach many balls."

Without pressure and with a style completely different from the rest of the circuit, Shintaro Mochizuki will now face the biggest challenge of his career against Jannik Sinner. The Japanese acknowledges that the world number one is the clear favorite, but he is determined not to give up the identity that has unexpectedly brought him to the Wimbledon Round of 16.