Jannik Sinner brought his on-court interview with John McEnroe to an abrupt end after comparisons over their respective mental approaches.

After rallying from a set down to defeat a spirited Tristan Schoolkate 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3, McEnroe was won over by Sinner’s ability to keep calm in the face of adversity at the Australian Open.

He insisted that he would not have been able to do so in his heyday, telling Sinner: “I’m pretty emotional, generally when I have been in Italy, Italians express themselves. You were able to control yourself so well, I wanted to know how you do it?”

Sinner then laughed as he mocked McEnroe in response, saying: “We can say we are a bit different me and you, but it shows that everyone is different, everyone has his own mentality. I have mine, I have to say I am quite happy with my one…”

McEnroe then joked back with “what are you saying?!” as the crowd erupted into laugher, before Sinner thought best to call time on their discussion.

He said: “I think we stop here” before McEnroe asked the supporters to give the world No. 1 a big cheer as he walked away from the American icon.

Earlier in the conversation, Sinner had plenty of time to graciously praise his Aussie wildcard opponent, having given the superstar quite a scare by taking the first set.

“I haven’t played so many juniors but it’s always tough to play against players who I don’t know very well,” he said. “I felt like he was serving really well and he was playing much better at the beginning than I was.

“With the crowd as well it was an amazing atmosphere so thank you so much for coming as well, it’s a very special place and for the Australians to play here with the home crowd but I have to be very happy still with my performance. It’s never taking things for granted so I’m very glad again to be in the next round.”

Sinner is defending a Major for the first time in his career and set up a third-round tie with American star Marcos Giron next, as he potentially put his rivals on alert by saying he can keep improving in Melbourne.

“It’s definitely a different feeling [defending the title] but there are so many beautiful moments on and off the court that has happened to me here in this beautiful place,” he said.

“It’s different but I take it as a chance to hopefully do it again, there’s still a very long way to go, we go day by day. From today we know my level can improve which is the most important and hopefully I can show this in the next round and hopefully again it’s going to be a great tournament for me.”