Jannik Sinner has looked virtually unstoppable this year, completing the Career Golden Masters and winning six titles already. But every grind comes with a heavy price. Fans have watched with concern as the Italian has collapsed physically on multiple occasions this season, appearing visibly exhausted and dizzy on court, including at Roland-Garros. Sinner’s coach Simone Vagnozzi has given his two cents on the matter.
Coach Vagnozzi Opens Up on the Reasons Behind Jannik Sinner’s Collapses
At the Italian Open this year, during his semifinal match against Daniil Medvedev, Sinner appeared to have shortness of breath and cramps and was spotted vomiting on the court during a difficult second set. He required a controversial medical timeout for physio treatment before a rain delay suspended play.
Though he eventually won that match and the tournament, it was more concerning at Roland Garros. Sinner physically struggled and felt dizzy during his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo at the French Open.
He got a medical timeout in the third set and left the court for a checkup, but even when he came back, he couldn’t play on his usual high level. The World No. 1 lost the third set 7-5 and dropped the next two sets 6-1 and 6-1, being knocked out of the Grand Slam tournament.
When asked about Sinner’s health, one of his coaches, Vagnozzi, gave a very honest answer. He made it clear that there is no specific injury or mental block to blame.
“I don’t think there is a single cause; it’s a combination of many small things that can lead to these minor breakdowns,” Vagnozzi explained in his latest interview for Corriere della Sera. “Though let’s remember, there have only been four of them in the last five years. These guys aren’t machines.”
“Heat, fatigue, and tension can all combine. In Paris, the temperatures were brutal, and he arrived there under significant physical and mental stress. In short, there isn’t just one factor; if there were, it would be easier for us to fix it. We have to live with these episodes while working to prevent them.”
That defeat also ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak this year. He had won every Masters 1000 tournament since March, including Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. Nonetheless, he returned recovered and fresh and won Wimbledon against Alexander Zverev in the final.
As a precaution to avoid such collapses, Sinner also skipped the Canadian Open in Montreal. Next up, he is scheduled to come back for the Cincinnati Open.
