Italian Tennis Legend Defends Jannik Sinner Amid Early Season Struggles

Adriano Panatta dismisses claims of a 'crisis' for the world No. 2 player

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Jannik Sinner, the world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion, has faced criticism following early season losses at the Australian Open and Doha. However, Italian tennis legend Adriano Panatta has strongly defended Sinner, arguing that the losses came against top-level competition and that it's too early to declare a 'crisis' for the young star. Panatta emphasized that Sinner's real test will come in the upcoming American hard-court and European clay seasons, where he expects the Italian to bounce back and prove his consistency at the Grand Slam level.

Why it matters

Sinner has established himself as one of the most reliable performers on the ATP Tour over the past two years, making any suggestions of a 'crisis' in his game appear premature. Panatta's defense of the 24-year-old highlights the importance of providing proper context and expertise when evaluating the performance of elite athletes, rather than overreacting to a few early losses.

The details

Sinner, the world No. 2, faced scrutiny after losing in the Australian Open semi-finals to Novak Djokovic and then suffering a quarter-final defeat to Jakub Mensik in Doha. These results ended his two-year reign as champion in Melbourne. However, Panatta, the 1976 French Open winner, rejected the notion that Sinner is struggling, arguing that the losses came against strong competition. Panatta emphasized that Mensik is a talented 20-year-old ranked No. 16 in the world, and that Sinner's real test will come in the upcoming American hard-court and European clay seasons, where he expects the Italian to bounce back and prove his consistency at the Grand Slam level.

  • Sinner lost to Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals.
  • Sinner lost to Mensik in the Doha quarter-finals.

The players

Jannik Sinner

A 24-year-old Italian tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 2 and has won four Grand Slam titles.

Adriano Panatta

An Italian tennis legend who won the 1976 French Open.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian tennis player who is considered one of the greatest players of all time.

Jakub Mensik

A 20-year-old Czech tennis player who is currently ranked world No. 16.

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What they’re saying

“Sinner in a crisis? Who says so? We're not kidding. He lost two matches, one against Novak Djokovic, who is a legend of the sport, and one against a twenty-year-old kid ranked number 16 in the world.”

— Adriano Panatta, Italian tennis legend (La Domenica Sportiva on Rai Sport)

“Real tennis is starting now with the two tournaments in America and then on clay in Europe and at Roland Garros. The difference between Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz can only be seen in the Grand Slam tournaments; only there will we know the truth. I'm very confident.”

— Adriano Panatta, Italian tennis legend (La Domenica Sportiva on Rai Sport)

“But where does the criticism come from? From improvised coaches who talk too much and don't know what they're talking about.”

— Adriano Panatta, Italian tennis legend (La Domenica Sportiva on Rai Sport)

What’s next

Sinner is scheduled to play in the Vienna (Erste Bank Open) tournament on October 20th and the Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) tournament on October 27th, where he will look to bounce back and regain his form ahead of the Grand Slam events.

The takeaway

Panatta's strong defense of Sinner highlights the importance of providing proper context and expertise when evaluating the performance of elite athletes. Rather than overreacting to a few early losses, Panatta emphasizes that Sinner's consistency over the past two years has established him as one of the most reliable performers on the ATP Tour, and that the real test of his season will come in the upcoming American hard-court and European clay seasons.