Q: Sascha, first time at the Rio Open, what are your early impressions so far?
A: Yeah. I mean, I only arrived yesterday, but obviously beautiful country, beautiful place, generally. So far, you know, everything is good. Of course, I'm looking forward to playing this tournament here for the first time. The club is is very beautiful. The courts are great. So yeah, expecting a good week.
Q: Hey, Sascha, you had little issues in Buenos Aires specially with the fans. What are you expecting here in Rio?
A: I didn’t have issues. I think everybody overstates that a little bit. Everything was good. The tournament was good, the people who organized the tournament were good. You know, there’s always five or 10 idiots in the crowd. And those five or 10 idiots they make life complicated for players sometimes, but everything else is fine. You know, there's five or 6000 people in the stadium, and unfortunately there's five very, very loud annoying ones, then they sometimes overshadow things. But I didn't have issues there. I didn't have issues with the tournament. I didn't have issues with anybody who organized it. I also thought Francisco did an incredible job of calming people down, and he was very, very fair on the court. So I think, you know, everybody tries to make a bigger story out of it than it is. I mean, I'm looking forward to playing this tournament here. It's generally a beautiful place, beautiful club. Haven't been to Center Court yet, but I'm sure that that's going to be great as well. So yeah, we'll see how it goes. But I'm expecting to hopefully to play better than I did in Buenos Aires, and, yeah, hopefully compete for winning tournament.
Q: What do you expect from Rio? You were talking about a bit this whole experience, but also you're in the place where João is from. How do you feel about that?
A: I mean, I'm not looking too much at him at the moment. You know, I have to play my matches first. He has to play his matches. You know, at the end of the day, I'm still number two in the world, number one seed here. So, you know, I'm expecting to hopefully play good and go through my matches first, and then we can talk about the rest.
Q: Hi, it's really hot here in Rio. You trained last night. So you can tell a little bit how much the weather can influence the game?
A: I really like hot conditions. I really love when it's hot. I actually hate when it's cold. So for me, it's terrible for my game also, because I think when it's hot, it's much faster, the ball bounces maybe a bit higher. So that's better for me. So generally, the heat doesn't concern me too much. I actually prefer it. So far, I felt good. I mean, last night I wanted to have an easy practice. I ended up practicing for three hours. So that doesn't usually work out for me, the easy practices. But as I said, I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to start the tournament, and we'll see how it goes, but I expect for myself to play better than I did in Buenos Aires, and, yeah, hopefully win the title.
Q: Do you think that playing the clay court swing in South America will help you improve you game in Roland Garros?
A: I mean, that's, that's one of the reasons I'm here for me, obviously, the position I am right now. My main focuses are the Grand Slams and I want to compete for those. And, of course, Roland Garros is always kind of marked on my calendar, and a little bit because I feel like I have great chances there. And hopefully I can prove it this year. Yeah, and I want to go on a clay court as soon as possible. I want to feel the court again. I wanted to play on it. And of course, get ready for the big tournaments coming up. Of course, we have two more Masters in the United States and hardcourt. But after that, it's all clay, and I'm looking forward to that swing as well.
Q: We had this week the news regarding Jannik Sinner. You played the Australian Open final with him. And there's a huge debate in tennis after the news. What can you say about this?
A: Yeah, for me, it’s a weird situation because it's been obviously a very long process where first year was cleared, then obviously WADA wanted to have a second look at it and stuff like that. To me, I think, you know, there's two options, either you’re at no fault, and you have, you should get no suspension at all, because if you have no fault you shouldn't get punished. But if you do have fault, then I think for taking steroids, three months is not a suspension, right? So for me, it's either way. You have to decide, was it his fault, or was it not his fault? If it's not his fault, then he shouldn't get a three month suspension. But if it is his fault, then yeah, this is, this is weird in a way, the whole process, the whole situation that has been there for the past year almost, it's been just strange. I would say.
Q: Sascha, we know that you still have a long journey in your career, but you were in a position similar to what João was going through. You are now world number two, you've been through this process. What were the main challenges and you top players, are you guys kind of seeing what he's going through? What are your input on his talent?
A: Actually, I had a similar run through like him. I mean, similar ages, everything, breaking through top 100, similar age, you know, reaching my first tour level, final similar age and all that. So kind of similar run through. I think the most important is, yes, he has talent. Of course, he has talent. Otherwise he wouldn't have the results that he's having. You wouldn't beat the players that he's beating and all of that. But I think the number one, most important thing is, I think everybody around him needs to calm him down. I talked to him. I know him quite well, and he seems like a nice guy. He seems like a very nice kid, and he seems like a very down to earth person. Still like everything around him seems to be good, but even if he wins Buenos Aires, I think the most important thing is to realize, okay, these are just the first stages, and I mean, we all need to settle down. It doesn't mean that, after tomorrow, I'm going to be world number one. I'm going to win 25 Grand Slams and be the best player of all time. You know, there's still a long process to that. There's still a long process to, you know, becoming a top 20 player, becoming a top 10 player, you know, competing for Master titles, competing for Grand Slams, it's all the process. And he's doing all the right things. I think he's playing tennis the right way. Also, I think he has good people around him. And, yeah, I think time will tell, but I think he has everything to be a great player.
Q: As Sinner got suspended for three months, he’s gonna lose almost 2000 points in the ranking, and you can reduce this gap. Do you think it's a good chance for you to become number one a few months?
A: Yeah. I mean, look, at the end of the day, of course, that's that's my goal, to become one, number one, and to to win Grand Slams this year for sure. But I think whether he’s suspended or not right now, it doesn't change my goals in a way, right? The goals are still the same. Of course, if you cannot make points for three months, then mathematically, it's easier. It's logical. But for me, you know, I'm still working on my things. I'm still working on the things that I want to improve, and at the next Grand Slam, he's going to be there again, so that that doesn't really change much. Of course, me and Carlos, we both see our opportunity now to close up the gap, probably on points and on becoming one number one again, or for him again, for me for the first time. But, of course, yeah, we have to focus on our things, and we have to win against the other opponents that are in front of us right now.
A: Yeah. I mean, I only arrived yesterday, but obviously beautiful country, beautiful place, generally. So far, you know, everything is good. Of course, I'm looking forward to playing this tournament here for the first time. The club is is very beautiful. The courts are great. So yeah, expecting a good week.
Q: Hey, Sascha, you had little issues in Buenos Aires specially with the fans. What are you expecting here in Rio?
A: I didn’t have issues. I think everybody overstates that a little bit. Everything was good. The tournament was good, the people who organized the tournament were good. You know, there’s always five or 10 idiots in the crowd. And those five or 10 idiots they make life complicated for players sometimes, but everything else is fine. You know, there's five or 6000 people in the stadium, and unfortunately there's five very, very loud annoying ones, then they sometimes overshadow things. But I didn't have issues there. I didn't have issues with the tournament. I didn't have issues with anybody who organized it. I also thought Francisco did an incredible job of calming people down, and he was very, very fair on the court. So I think, you know, everybody tries to make a bigger story out of it than it is. I mean, I'm looking forward to playing this tournament here. It's generally a beautiful place, beautiful club. Haven't been to Center Court yet, but I'm sure that that's going to be great as well. So yeah, we'll see how it goes. But I'm expecting to hopefully to play better than I did in Buenos Aires, and, yeah, hopefully compete for winning tournament.
Q: What do you expect from Rio? You were talking about a bit this whole experience, but also you're in the place where João is from. How do you feel about that?
A: I mean, I'm not looking too much at him at the moment. You know, I have to play my matches first. He has to play his matches. You know, at the end of the day, I'm still number two in the world, number one seed here. So, you know, I'm expecting to hopefully play good and go through my matches first, and then we can talk about the rest.
Q: Hi, it's really hot here in Rio. You trained last night. So you can tell a little bit how much the weather can influence the game?
A: I really like hot conditions. I really love when it's hot. I actually hate when it's cold. So for me, it's terrible for my game also, because I think when it's hot, it's much faster, the ball bounces maybe a bit higher. So that's better for me. So generally, the heat doesn't concern me too much. I actually prefer it. So far, I felt good. I mean, last night I wanted to have an easy practice. I ended up practicing for three hours. So that doesn't usually work out for me, the easy practices. But as I said, I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to start the tournament, and we'll see how it goes, but I expect for myself to play better than I did in Buenos Aires, and, yeah, hopefully win the title.
Q: Do you think that playing the clay court swing in South America will help you improve you game in Roland Garros?
A: I mean, that's, that's one of the reasons I'm here for me, obviously, the position I am right now. My main focuses are the Grand Slams and I want to compete for those. And, of course, Roland Garros is always kind of marked on my calendar, and a little bit because I feel like I have great chances there. And hopefully I can prove it this year. Yeah, and I want to go on a clay court as soon as possible. I want to feel the court again. I wanted to play on it. And of course, get ready for the big tournaments coming up. Of course, we have two more Masters in the United States and hardcourt. But after that, it's all clay, and I'm looking forward to that swing as well.
Q: We had this week the news regarding Jannik Sinner. You played the Australian Open final with him. And there's a huge debate in tennis after the news. What can you say about this?
A: Yeah, for me, it’s a weird situation because it's been obviously a very long process where first year was cleared, then obviously WADA wanted to have a second look at it and stuff like that. To me, I think, you know, there's two options, either you’re at no fault, and you have, you should get no suspension at all, because if you have no fault you shouldn't get punished. But if you do have fault, then I think for taking steroids, three months is not a suspension, right? So for me, it's either way. You have to decide, was it his fault, or was it not his fault? If it's not his fault, then he shouldn't get a three month suspension. But if it is his fault, then yeah, this is, this is weird in a way, the whole process, the whole situation that has been there for the past year almost, it's been just strange. I would say.
Q: Sascha, we know that you still have a long journey in your career, but you were in a position similar to what João was going through. You are now world number two, you've been through this process. What were the main challenges and you top players, are you guys kind of seeing what he's going through? What are your input on his talent?
A: Actually, I had a similar run through like him. I mean, similar ages, everything, breaking through top 100, similar age, you know, reaching my first tour level, final similar age and all that. So kind of similar run through. I think the most important is, yes, he has talent. Of course, he has talent. Otherwise he wouldn't have the results that he's having. You wouldn't beat the players that he's beating and all of that. But I think the number one, most important thing is, I think everybody around him needs to calm him down. I talked to him. I know him quite well, and he seems like a nice guy. He seems like a very nice kid, and he seems like a very down to earth person. Still like everything around him seems to be good, but even if he wins Buenos Aires, I think the most important thing is to realize, okay, these are just the first stages, and I mean, we all need to settle down. It doesn't mean that, after tomorrow, I'm going to be world number one. I'm going to win 25 Grand Slams and be the best player of all time. You know, there's still a long process to that. There's still a long process to, you know, becoming a top 20 player, becoming a top 10 player, you know, competing for Master titles, competing for Grand Slams, it's all the process. And he's doing all the right things. I think he's playing tennis the right way. Also, I think he has good people around him. And, yeah, I think time will tell, but I think he has everything to be a great player.
Q: As Sinner got suspended for three months, he’s gonna lose almost 2000 points in the ranking, and you can reduce this gap. Do you think it's a good chance for you to become number one a few months?
A: Yeah. I mean, look, at the end of the day, of course, that's that's my goal, to become one, number one, and to to win Grand Slams this year for sure. But I think whether he’s suspended or not right now, it doesn't change my goals in a way, right? The goals are still the same. Of course, if you cannot make points for three months, then mathematically, it's easier. It's logical. But for me, you know, I'm still working on my things. I'm still working on the things that I want to improve, and at the next Grand Slam, he's going to be there again, so that that doesn't really change much. Of course, me and Carlos, we both see our opportunity now to close up the gap, probably on points and on becoming one number one again, or for him again, for me for the first time. But, of course, yeah, we have to focus on our things, and we have to win against the other opponents that are in front of us right now.
