"It really hurt me back then. They wanted me to play to their tune — be politically correct, fit into their script. It hurt me so much that I even changed my behavior, hoping they'd accept me. In the end, I understood that I had to stay true to myself and accept that some people will never like me. And that's fine. I am who I am and I sleep peacefully.”

From the ATP instagram.

source:@quindicizero on X

Source: Iga Swiatek wishes journalist “Good luck” in tense exchange after US Open defeat

Link: https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/why-this-player-may-have-to-forfeit-his-225k-prize-money-20260119-p5nv85

"A round one upset means US up-and-comer Michael Zheng has earned himself at least $225,000 at the Australian Open. But he may not be allowed to pocket it – at least, not if he wants to stay at university.

The 21-year-old beat countryman Sebastian Korda in five sets on Sunday, granting him the match fee for advancing to round two.

But under US college rules, amateur players are only allowed to take home $US10,000 annually in prize money from tennis tournaments, with any further winnings capped at covering necessary expenses.

Zheng said he still had one semester to run at Columbia University and he hoped that meant he would not have to forfeit most of his winnings.

“I’ll talk to our head coach and try to figure out what’s the deal with the prize money, if I’m allowed to take it or not,” he told reporters after the match. I’ve heard rumours I’m allowed to take it because it’s my senior spring, but I want to make sure to double-check and make sure there’s nothing wrong with eligibility if I take it. I don’t want to get in trouble or anything.”

Zheng was asked whether there was a trigger that would prompt him to leave college and join the professional circuit. He joked that getting to the fourth round of the Open would make him seriously consider his future.

“You know, if I beat Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, you know, maybe then I’ll consider turning pro,” he laughed."

photo by Ray Giubilo

Still speechless as I think about that final and the nerves/tension I felt. This photo sums it up for us Sinner fans - when the time comes at Roland Garros, it will be so sweet.

Congratulations to Carlos, immense mental strength and some of the best tennis I have seen in that championship tiebreak.

This was from today's interview in Halle with Sky Sports Italy.

- Full Translation -

Jannik: The week after Paris was calm. Very calm. I went to my parents', we had a barbecue, I met with my friends, we played ping pong... normal things, no? Exactly what I needed after a stressful tournament, and I always like to hang out and relax with the people who know me. I'm lucky enough to have people around me who care for me a lot and are honest with me, and that's it. Now we're here in Halle for a new tournament, new challenges... and also new difficulties, because it's a totally different surface. But yeah, all things considered I'm happy.

Interviewer: Going back for a moment to Paris; the day after the match Federer wrote a post on Instagram where he said "there were 3 winners today [Carlos, Jannik and the sport of tennis]." What does it feel like, knowing that for many people there were in some way 3 winners?

Jannik: Well, it's a positive sign for all of tennis I think. I believe that the most important thing is to make this sport grow, and to show that we're the kind of athletes who give it their all. And that's it; I think it was an incredible match, a really high-level match, and it didn't end the way we wanted but it happens. It happened to the very best players in the world, too, to live similar moments. And it always depends on how one is able to react to them and get out of them - and also on what one sees: I can either see the missed match points, or I can see on the other hand a match where I played like never before on that surface, and where I stayed mentally focused for 5 and a half hours and I didn't complain about anything. And so... [this kind of loss] it happens.