"Jannik is not in a crisis at all": Italian legend hits back at Sinner critics

Adriano Panatta has dismissed suggestions that Jannik Sinner is experiencing a downturn, pushing back firmly against criticism aimed at the world No. 2 after his early exits in 2026. The four-time Grand Slam champion opened the season with a semi-final run at the Australian Open before falling in the quarter-finals in Doha.

Sinner’s defeat to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne ended his two-year reign at the tournament, where he claimed his maiden major in 2024. Weeks later, he lost in three sets to world No. 13 Jakub Mensik in Doha. The Italian holds a 7-2 record this season.

Despite those losses, Panatta — the 1976 Roland Garros champion and former world No. 4 — sees no reason for alarm. Speaking on Rai Sport, he criticised what he described as exaggerated reactions to Sinner’s results.

Panatta framed the debate in direct terms, rejecting the idea that two defeats constitute a slump at the highest level of the sport. “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,” said the former world French Open champion. “Those who don’t know him (Mensik) think it was a defeat against an unknown, but that’s not exactly the case.”

Sinner’s recent results come after two seasons of remarkable consistency. In both 2024 and 2025, he lost just six matches per year and reached the final in 10 of the 12 tournaments he played in 2025, with one event ending in retirement.

Panatta suggested that perspective has been lost in the discussion surrounding Sinner’s start to the year. He pointed to the level of opposition and the competitive margins involved, especially against Djokovic in a five-set Grand Slam semi-final.

He also addressed commentary emerging from abroad, arguing that expectations have distorted the narrative around the Italian’s performances. “It’s logical that people in Spain are talking about a crisis. It would be nice if it were like that for them, but I’m sorry to contradict them. Jannik is not in a crisis at all.”

Looking ahead, Panatta underlined that the most important stretch of the season is still to come. With Indian Wells and Miami approaching, followed by the European clay swing and Roland Garros, he sees the coming months as the real test. “Real tennis is starting now with the two tournaments in America and then on clay in Europe and at Roland Garros.”

The debate around Sinner inevitably connects to his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, who has alternated with the Italian at the top of the rankings over the past two seasons. For Panatta, meaningful comparisons can only be drawn on the biggest stages.

He argued that consistency across Masters events is important, but decisive answers about hierarchy emerge primarily at Grand Slam tournaments. “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.”

Panatta also criticised what he described as excessive commentary from outside the inner circles of elite competition, questioning the authority of some of Sinner’s detractors. “But where does the criticism come from? From improvised coaches who talk too much and don’t know what they’re talking about.”

He closed by stressing the broader reality of professional sport, where even dominant players are subject to fluctuations in results. “Someone like Sinner, who was number 1 in the world, won everything in his career, and was almost undefeated, can’t be criticised for two losses. You don’t win,” the Italian legend added. “In sports, you can make mistakes, and Jannik isn’t immune to this. He wins a lot and sometimes he loses. That’s normal.”