Sinner Must Win Big Soon, Says Querrey

Former player warns Italian star needs Masters 1000 title to silence doubters

Feb. 25, 2026 at 11:47am

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Jannik Sinner's recent early exit at the Qatar Open has raised questions about his form, with former player Sam Querrey suggesting the world No. 2 must win a major title soon to silence doubters. Querrey believes Sinner "has to win one, weirdly enough" at either Indian Wells or Miami, while fellow American Steve Johnson offered a more measured view, saying there's "no reason to panic" if Sinner doesn't win those events.

Why it matters

Sinner is widely regarded as one of the sport's rising stars, but his failure to win a Masters 1000 title so far has led to growing scrutiny of his ability to deliver on the biggest stages. The upcoming events in Indian Wells and Miami will be crucial in shaping the narrative around Sinner's season and his standing among the elite players on tour.

The details

Sinner's quarterfinal loss to Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open last week marked a shock early exit for the world No. 2, coming on the heels of his Australian Open semifinal defeat to Novak Djokovic. The setbacks have raised questions about Sinner's current form and his ability to win titles at the highest level.

  • Sinner lost to Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on February 19, 2026.
  • Sinner reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2026.

The players

Jannik Sinner

A 24-year-old Italian tennis player currently ranked No. 2 in the world.

Sam Querrey

A former American professional tennis player who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2017.

Steve Johnson

An American professional tennis player.

Jakub Mensik

A professional tennis player from the Czech Republic, currently ranked No. 13 in the world.

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What they’re saying

“He has to win one, weirdly enough, in my mind. Otherwise it's like, dude, something is really off.”

— Sam Querrey, Former professional tennis player

“There's no reason to panic, but I don't think if he wins Indian Wells or Miami, then you start to question things.”

— Steve Johnson, Professional tennis player

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.