World No. 1 Jannik Sinner discussed his victory over Tommy Paul in the Rome Masters semi-final, which he won 1-6, 6-0, 6-3.
`It was a bit chilly in the tunnel before stepping onto the court, but nothing critical. Today I pulled through the match more with my heart, while against Ruud I won with my head. Every match is a different story. On Sunday, I want to combine all of that to display great tennis. If I can`t, the final will be a tough one for me,` Sinner commented on his mindset during the match.
Speaking at the press conference, the Italian addressed his physical condition and shared his outlook for the final.
`I need matches like this,` Sinner stated. `I`m happy I managed to get through, as I knew I wasn`t stepping onto the court in my best shape. Tommy played great at the start, dictating the play.`
`I slightly adjusted my tactics, which helped me secure the second set,` he explained. `In the third, I aimed for a powerful start, and that worked. He broke back later, but the game at 3-2 felt crucial to me.`
`I`m satisfied. Reaching the final here in Rome is fantastic, particularly after my return,` Sinner added. `It means a lot to me. We`ll see what happens on Sunday. I hope to recover as much as possible. For the past couple of matches, a blister under my foot has been bothering me, causing other muscles to tense up as well. But I`m not concerned about the foot itself, the main priority is for the blister to heal quickly.`
`Regardless, there are no excuses. I`m in the final, and on Sunday I will give my absolute maximum effort. We`ll see what the outcome is,` he concluded.
Marcus Prine