‘No excuse’: Agassi grills Sinner after match that rocked slam
US tennis great Andre Agassi says “there’s no excuse” for Jannik Sinner’s meltdown in hot conditions in Paris after such a dominant lead and urged the world No.1 to change his preparation to avoid another flame out.
Top-ranked Sinner lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, after leading by two sets to love and serving at 5-1 in the third set.
Jannik Sinner struggled to close out his second round match. AP Photo/Thibault Camus
He gave up 18 of the final 20 games and became the first man to lose before the third round as the top-seeded male player at Roland Garros since 2000.
Sinner received treatment for apparent cramps and seemed dehydrated as his body shut down with the finish line in sight.
The world No.1 has a history of giving up big leads in grand slams, something Agassi believes the Italian needs to address.
Speaking to US broadcaster TNT, Agassi, a former French Open champion and world No.1 who held the top spot for 101 weeks, also called out other commentators on the panel for not being critical enough of Sinner’s early exit.
“I don’t know if you called (Sinner) out enough by the way,” Agassi said.
“There’s a difference between being fit and being prepared. And I have to point at a flaw in that kind of preparation because there’s something you can do about that. It’s not that that dude doesn’t work hard.
“It’s not that he’s not fit. And he was one game away, and the whole draw opened up. I mean we all thought we’d see him here, maybe not even losing a set.”
Agassi’s critique was particularly noteworthy because Sinner is coached by Australian Darren Cahill, who also coached Agassi to grand slam titles and the world No.1 ranking.
Former world No.1 Andre Agassi. TNT
Sinner’s body has let him down in the past after taking early leads in grand slams. In addition to the loss to Cerundolo, he lost last year’s final at Roland Garros to Carlos Alacaraz after taking a two sets to love lead, serving for the match in the fourth and holding three championship points.
He also wilted in the Melbourne heat in the third round of the Australian Open against little-known American Eliot Spizzirri. He trailed 4-6, 1-3 in 40 degree heat and looked certain to be eliminated before the heat rule came into play and the players were ordered off the court so the roof could be closed.
Sinner was a different player in more temperate conditions, getting out of that match comfortably once the roof was closed. He progressed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 but his alarming performance to start the match was another reminder of his preference for comfortable conditions.
Sinner’s battles with hot conditions could perhaps be explained in part by the fact that he was born and raised in the Italian Alps, where even in the height of summer temperatures rarely get above 20 degrees.
But Agassi said he had the resources at his disposal to combat the heat better than he currently was.
“They’re so scientific these days about their preps, about their recoveries, about all that,” Agassi added.
“I’m sure he has a staff of doctors and people, but repeating the same thing twice and expecting different results? That’s where I call a little Yahtzee on all of it.
“He needs to figure out what to change. He may need to bring somebody in. It’s got to be some form of hydration issue.
“You have to force (hydration). It’s better to have it in you and not need it than to need it and not have it. I’d question his intake and if he’s doing it properly. I just would. I know nothing about his preparation.
“I know he can play for over five hours. He’s proven it. I know he’s the best player on the planet right now. But I also know that there’s no excuse for him to run into a wall at 1 hour, 45 (minutes into the match).”
