World No. 1 Jannik Sinner shared his thoughts on how he felt during his first match back on the ATP Tour after a period away. In the second round of the Rome Masters, he defeated Mariano Navone with a score of 6/3, 6/4.
This match marked the Italian`s return to competition after missing several tournaments.
Question: How would you describe the difference between practice matches this week and the level of tension you experienced today? Was there a point where you felt excitement or `butterflies in your stomach` – something you hadn`t felt in the past couple of months?
Answer: The difference is huge. Even when the match seems comfortable from the outside, internally it`s a real rollercoaster. Especially at the start – nerves before the first serve, trying to move as well as possible. Everything feels different.
Training sessions are more relaxed because the outcome of points doesn`t significantly impact anything. But I absolutely love competing, playing official matches – that`s why I play. Today on court I felt excellent, and that makes me happy.
We constantly strive for small improvements, working on details that make a difference. Tomorrow is a day off – I hope to make it as productive as possible.
Question: Over the last three months, while you were away, did you have doubts about being able to return to the magnificent form you showed today?
Answer: Of course, there were doubts. It`s completely normal. It would be strange if there weren`t – that would sound too overconfident, wouldn`t it?
Doubts were present before walking onto the court, and they are still there – I don`t know how the next match will unfold. But you have to live with doubts because they demonstrate that you care, that you want to improve, to prove yourself, to achieve something special. Doubts arise for each of us every day.
