Jannik Sinner reveals how he controls his emotions on court after comeback victory
Jannik Sinner has been the form player of 2024 and now he has offered up an insight into how he always appears to remain so cool on a tennis court.
Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner recovered from a set down to beat Tallon Griekspoor 5-7 7-5 6-1, as he extended his winning record this year to an imposing 18-1.
Yet he was tested by big-serving Griekspoor, who only faded once the world No 3 took control of the match in the decisive set.
As he reflected on how he controls his emotions when it feels like an opponent is getting on top of him, Sinner offered up this explanation.
“You have to control what you have to control,” he stated.
“The other part, you can’t really control. If he serves really, really good, especially in important moments like he did today, it’s tough.
When you are break down, set down, you are 5-All, 4-All, it’s fast that the match is over.
“That’s why today (against Griekspoor) was a good day for me because I was in a really tough situation and I handled it somehow to win. That’s why I’m happy.
“For sure it’s an amazing playing. I knew more or less what to expect. I had some chances also in the first set. He handled it better than I did. That was the way.
“The second set, I tried to stay a little bit more aggressive. I started off also feeling a little bit better. Then the rain came. After it changed a little bit. Really happy how I handled the situation on the court.
“I think I played with a little bit more intensity in general to come back, bt it’s also tough when the opponent is serving this well. It’s tough to get into the rally.
“He has so many huge weapons with the serve and the forehand. Even the net game is really, really good.
READ MORE: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz seem out of the ordinary’, says former star in Federer, Nadal, Djokovic claim
“I think he started off really well the match. I just tried to stay focused about my service games, which then I made couple of mistakes when he broke me. But he also played good game there in the first set.
“That’s it. Sometimes you have to accept it somehow, which I’ve done. I just tried to stay mentally strong, and that’s it. The next match we see what’s coming. It’s for sure a tough match.”
Sinner was also asked about his other sporting passion skiing, as he excelled on the slopes as a junior before opting to commit his sporting energies to tennis.
He now limits himself to just two days a year skiing and admitted the danger of the sport is not conducive to his sporting career.
“Sometimes it’s good for my mental part to don’t stay on the tennis court, doing some different things. Going to ski for me is always a relief,” he added.
“Images of back in the days comes in my head, going with the friends. That’s so nice, no?
“Usually we make two days per year on the slopes. Even this year we went these couple of days. It was really nice for me. Just to recover also the mental side. That’s it, but you have to be careful. It’s going fast that you fall and you break something. Big issues.
“I’m very calm on the skis now. I’m not like the young kid I was before.”
