Jannik Sinner has explained changes to his service motion after he cruised past Hugo Gaston at the Australian Open.
The Italian is aiming for a third consecutive title at Melbourne Park and made the perfect start as he took a two set lead before Gaston retired from the match.
Sinner only dropped three games in the first two sets before the Frenchman retired which sent the former world number one into the second round.
After the match Sinner said he was happy with his performance, “Yes, I was very happy. We put in a lot of work to be back on court. It felt great,” Sinner started his press conference by saying.
“I mean, for me was just a general feeling to be back competing. I’ve put in many, many long days in the off-season trying to become a better tennis player. But at end of the day the most important part is to go on court and to enjoy, no?
“It’s very special to start the season in a night session match here in a Grand Slam, the packed stadium, just trying to do your best. I felt like he started off very well, hitting some great shots. I tried to understand his game a little bit. We’ve played some back a couple of years ago. Things have changed a bit. So trying to understand his game style. Then after I tried to raise my level, which worked very well.”
It has been a busy off-season for Sinner who is always looking to adapt in order to gain progress as he and Carlos Alcaraz split the Grand Slams last year.
This time it was to improve the serve and Sinner explained the changes he has made to his service motion, “Yeah, I mean, it’s not only US Open. I felt like the serve was and still is a shot where I need to improve,” Sinner admitted.
“It’s the only shot we have where we can do everything by ourselves. There is a lot of room to improve. We changed a little bit the motion, the rhythm of the serve. Before it was a bit too fast in the beginning. Now it’s a bit slower. And the toss usually was a bit more in front a bit on the right. Now it’s a bit more back and over the head. At times I still lose it. It’s not a shot where I feel very safe with. But in the same time we are working on that.
“Yeah, it is one of if not the most important shots we have because it can give you so many great things. Yeah, so let’s see how I’m going to serve this season.”
Sinner will play Australian wildcard James Duckworth in the second round.
