Jannik Sinner responds to Alexander Zverev’s post‑Madrid remarks

Sinner responds to Zverev’s post-match comments

Sinner said: “Oh, it’s tough to say. You know, sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days. It also depends when I play against someone. I always try in every tournament. One day can be big changes.

“If you see the first day, again, you know, first-round matches, they are very tough. After, you try to raise your level.

“Today it was a really, really good performance from my side; very solid, serving well. But, look, I don’t compare myself with other players.

“I try to be the best possible version of myself, and that’s it. At the same time, it also depends, you know, day by day it’s always different.”

Sinner’s win over Zverev means he has now won his last five meetings against the German and seven out of their 11 overall head-to-head matches.

Jannik Sinner shares his thoughts on making history in Madrid

Reacting to his record-breaking fifth straight Masters title, Sinner said: “Yeah, I mean, it means a lot. In the same time, you know, as I always said, I cannot compare myself with Rafa, Roger, Novak. You know, what they did is something incredible. I don’t play for these records or for records in general.

“I play for myself. I play for my team, because they know what’s behind. Also my family, you know, because my family, they, with the success I’ve had, they also never changed how they are towards me. They are simple parents, and I feel very safe when I’m around them.

“We never talk about tennis when I’m at home, you know, so it’s a great relationship. It’s really just, you know, parents and me. Yeah, look, it means, of course, a lot, great numbers. But there is a lot of discipline, a lot of sacrifice behind this.

“There’s also daily routines that I put in. I also, I’m the first person who needs to be ready, you know, in the morning to wake up. I like the journey. I like to put myself in the best possible position to be the best version of myself.

“I don’t play for other records. As I said, what the other players did in the past, and Novak’s still doing, it’s something incredible. I cannot compare myself with them.”

If he goes on to win the Italian Open title this month, he will become the youngest player ever to complete the Career Golden Masters.