Jannik Sinner's Journey Back to Melbourne Park! | Australian Open 2025

All right, let's go. First day here, first time going on the court. So, arrived yesterday very late, slept all the flight, didn't sleep so much during the night. So, let's see, it's going to be a very long day. Do you get the penthouse suite or something at the hotel now that you're an AO champion? I have the same room as last year. I'm happy to be here again. It's a very special place for me, where obviously many things started. You want to repeat, not just the room number, but also what you did last year. I try to take it day by day. We have still more or less ten days, nine days to prepare. So, I have a chance to play a couple of exhibition matches here before the start, and hopefully this can give me the rhythm I haven't played like last year before the Australian Open. So, let's see. We go day by day, and then hopefully my level can raise. When you say you feel a bit different this year, do you feel like it's going to be more difficult? Yeah, you know, honestly, every Grand Slam or every tournament is different. Especially in the beginning of the season, you know, the players have... I think we all have worked on certain areas of our game where we wanted to improve, and, you know, this we're going to see. You know, especially in the early stages of tournaments, everyone is more fresh than in the end of the season, and it's going to be very difficult. You know, but considering everything, we tried to do the best we could in our off-season, and hopefully I can also play some good tennis this year, but obviously it's going to be very difficult. This is the first time driving back to Melbourne Park since you won your first Grand Slam. How do you feel about it? Yeah, it's a very hot day today. The conditions have changed from last year. It's much hotter and more humid, so... But I do remember the streets, obviously. It's nice to go back to a place where I love to play, where it's very nice to be, and, you know, it's something very special, winning a Grand Slam. You know, coming back to the place as a defending champion, it's a nice feeling, it's a different feeling, but, you know, I'm looking forward to it. Let's see how I can handle the situation on, and then especially also off the court, and then we'll see. The car journey, in particular, when you go to play a match, is that where you get to reflect or, like... Yeah, reflect on what's about to come? Yeah, I believe it's still a long time to go. You know, when you're sitting in the car and when you're actually playing the match, there are some hours and hours where you have to wait and prepare it. I feel like more... You know, after the shower, when you put your match clothes on, then it starts to hit a bit different. Rafa had the same driver for the whole time you played here, almost about 20 years or so. Those are nice stories. You know, when you come back, you talk again with the same person. You know, you have a different connection now, so it's very nice. It also brought him a bit of luck as a driver. He didn't play bad here, no. He was all right. How's Jannik going to do this year? He will win. He will take it out. He will take it out? Yeah, he will take Australia home. How was your Christmas? It was good? It was lovely, yeah. Christmas is always nice to stay at home with family, even if this year was so different for me because of the loss of my aunt last year. And it was... Yeah, just different, more stressful, in a way, feeling a missed person. You know, life sometimes gives you positives and good things, and sometimes it's tough. Especially because you're such a close-knit family. Yeah, I love family and I love the people who are close to me and the people who trust me as a person. Also, with the situation I had because of the tennis last year, and I'm still in this year, I tried to surround myself with people I really trust. And she was definitely one of mine, my aunt. I could talk with her about everything, and it was very, very nice. Trying to have the people around us, where we feel comfortable with, where the people we love from our heart is much more important than, you know, winning tournaments, even if winning tournaments is what we work for for years and years. Yeah. Strange Christmas. Do you feel like, in a way, you'll be carrying her memory with you? Yeah. Yeah, she's a very rare person for my life. You know, the people who we love, we have to keep, or we have to take care of them, because they are the reason why, at the end of the day, we are happy. You know? You know, this is in every kind of relationship, if it's friendship or a real relationship, not a personal one, so... Yeah. All set. But here we are. We are again here. It's a nice Grand Slam, just because they change always small things to try to make it better. Let's see what this year they have changed, but... So, here it's already a match feeling. You know, when you come here, on match day, you step out of the car, the beginning of the Grand Slam, there are so many people around, and this is the garage where we come. Yeah, it's good to be back. First of all, we have to take the credentials, because if not, we don't go anywhere, but it's all good. Hey. How are you? Good, nice to see you. Good to see you. All good. Yourself? All good. Family? Yeah, all good. Hey, how are you? Good to see you. How are you, mate? All good? Yeah, very good. You're getting caught up in the boss. Are you excited to be back? Yeah, it's a very special walk-on. Very. It's very nice to see all the names of the champions. It's very nice. Yeah, that's it. Pretty cool, eh? Not bad. See you later. See you. How are you doing, boss? You doing good? Yeah. How are you? Good. AO25, let's do this.