Australian Open: “I like dancing in the rain of pressure”, confides Sinner after his coronation

World No.4 Jannik Sinner, who toppled Daniil Medvedev (N.3) after being down two sets to zero in the final of the Australian Open on Sunday, explained how much he enjoyed “dancing under this rain of pressure ".

Do you realize that you have just won your first Grand Slam title?Jannik SINNER. - I don't realize it yet, it takes a little time, it's one of the biggest trophies in our sport. I am extremely happy with the way I handled things today (Sunday). I was in a very, very difficult situation on the court. I had some problems, trailing two sets to zero in just over an hour... I tried to stay positive, to adjust my game plan a little. Daniil (Medvedev) is an extraordinary player, he showed again that he is an incredible fighter, he spent so many hours on the court (since the tournament started)... I feel sorry for him, but I'm sure he will lift more trophies in Grand Slam. It's extraordinary to have this trophy. But I know I'm going to have to work even harder to get new opportunities (to experience this), my opponents are going to figure out how to beat me, I have to be ready for that.

Did he surprise you by choosing to play very aggressively? I expected him to try something different, I had imagined he might be a little more aggressive, but not as much . He played really, really well in the first two sets, first two and a half sets. I tried to take my chance in the third set, which I did. When you win a very important game, sometimes the match turns, that was the case today. I just tried to stay on the court as long as possible, he had played so many hours... The longer the match lasted... Physically I was a little better. I think that was the key.

When did you feel like the match could turn? When I broke in the fourth set, I started to feel like I could do it.

You are the first Italian to win the Australian Open...That means a lot to me. Perhaps this is the most important. The support I've had for years already is incredible. Being able to make them happy today is extraordinary. When you are in a difficult situation, like today, it was going so quickly, I was down two sets to zero... I said to myself “At least find a way for there to be a match”, and that was the case.

How do you manage the weight of expectations that exist around you? There is always pressure, but pressure must be taken on the positive side. It's a privilege: there aren't that many players who have this kind of pressure. Let's just say I like dancing in this rain of pressure. This is where I produce my best tennis most of the time. I am quite relaxed on these occasions. I always try to enjoy it when I'm on court.

Comments collected at a press conference.