Jannik Sinner has opened up about how he handles hostile crowds, acknowledging Novak Djokovic’s exceptional ability to thrive in such environments while outlining his own approach to staying composed. The Italian shed light on his mindset after claiming a clinical 6-2, 6-4 victory over Arthur Fils and advancing to the final of the 2026 Madrid Open.
Jannik Sinner Praises ‘Fair’ Madrid Open Crowd Ahead of Final
In his post-match press conference, Jannik Sinner was asked how he stays calm when the crowd is supporting his opponent, with a reference to how Novak Djokovic copes by imagining the cheers are for him rather than his opponent. In response, the world No. 1 acknowledged Djokovic as the best at dealing with hostile crowds, but admitted that he approaches things differently, without any specific tactic.
The Italian also empathized with fans in the crowd, acknowledging that the hostility often stems from their desire to see more competitive tennis rather than personal animosity.
“Well, I think everyone is different. Novak handled it very very well, of course I think the best. But for me, I don’t have a technique,” Sinner said. “Honestly I’m just happy to be part of a match. People come to see good tennis and sometimes people, they’re not against you, they just want to see a little bit more tennis so I also understand them. I try to stay also calm you know in rushy moments and very tough moments. So, this is just how I am. It doesn’t mean this is good or bad, you know. I think everyone is different.”
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Although he mentioned that the support he receives at home in Italy creates a special atmosphere, Sinner emphasized that the crowd in Madrid was “very fair” to him when he faced Rafael Jódar in the quarterfinals.
“But yeah, the crowd can give you a lot of positives. When I play in Italy, it means a lot to me. I always say you have an extra shot playing with the crowd. But honestly also when I played against Rafael [Jódar] here, it was was a nice atmosphere. I think they are very fair towards me and that’s something what I really appreciate,” he added.
Sinner has joined an elite club at the Madrid Open, following in the footsteps of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer as only the fourth player to reach the finals of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. He now has his sights set on making more history by winning his fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title in the final against Alexander Zverev on Sunday, May 3.
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Jannik Sinner heads into the blockbuster contest with a 9-4 lead in his head-to-head record against Zverev, including victories in all eight of their most recent encounters. However, the German has made it clear that he intends to make things “difficult” for the world No. 1.
