"The boy is a bit fragile" - Former Davis Cup champion on Jannik Sinner after the Italian's withdrawal in Shanghai

Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 06:30

Retired Italian tennis star Paolo Bertolucci had some choice words for compatriot Jannik Sinner after the World No.2 was forced to retire during his match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters, with Bertolucci giving a rather vicious take on Sinner's physicality.

After winning the title at the China Open in Beijing, Sinner would travel to Shanghai for the ATP Masters 1000 event. The reigning Wimbledon champion cruised through his opening round match, but encountered a hiccup when he faced Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the third round.

Although Sinner would take the first set, the Italian dropped the second. Sinner soon began to feel the consequences of competing in the intense heat and humidity in Shanghai, as he suffered a series of cramps and was forced to take a medical timeout in the decider.

The San Candido native was unable to overcome this setback, leading to him retiring at 2-3 in the final set. The cramps appeared to be severe, as Sinner was unable to leave the court under his own power and had to be helped to the locker room.

Bertolucci takes aim at Sinner's toughness

The former World No.12 is a respected voice in the Italian tennis community. In an appearance on Sky Sport Italia, Bertolucci criticized his countryman's decision to withdraw from the match.

Read also

"It's a shame, he had a real chance here," said Bertolucci. "But the boy is a bit fragile. One time it's cramps, another time it's the stomach, the elbow, blisters, the hip... It's starting to add up.
"What's certain is that he doesn't have the same physical toughness as Djokovic or Alcaraz. It's no longer a surprise. But let's keep things in perspective: in this tragedy, we're still talking about the World No. 2."

Additionally, Bertolucci suggested Sinner's busy schedule might play a role in his physical well-being. The retired tennis star, who won the Davis Cup with Italy in 1976, advised the 24-year old to reevaluate his tournament schedule.

"All this in just a month and a half!" added Bertolucci. "Frankly, was it necessary to go to Beijing? We know the answer: points, rankings, the race for No. 1... But what's the point if your body can't keep up? Yes, his season was shortened by that stupid suspension, but that doesn't change the core issue. Sinner is pushing the rope too hard."

Sinner has since recovered from the incident and is currently competing at the Six Kings exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.

Read also

Arthur Ajayi

Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.

As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.

With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Aryna Sabalenka headlines Hong Kong exhibition event, alongside Andre Agassi and Anna Kalinskaya

"This is something that I can’t take any chances with" - Alex De Minaur opens up on the hip injury that forced his UTS withdrawal