With the Career Grand Slam within his grasp, Jannik Sinner entered the 2026 French Open as the overwhelming favorite in the absence of two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. However, despite winning all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in the lead-up to the Major, the world No. 1 crashed out in the second round after displaying signs of struggle.
Tennis legend Andre Agassi has shared his assessment of Sinner’s performance, pinpointing a key area of concern and outlining what the Italian must address to avoid similar setbacks in the future.
Andre Agassi Explains the ‘Flaw’ in Jannik Sinner’s French Open Preparation
After a dominant straight-sets victory in his opening match, Sinner was well on his way to another comfortable win in the second round, taking a 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. However, the match took a dramatic turn when the Italian required a medical timeout after complaining about dizziness and nausea. The world No. 1 looked far from his usual self afterward, as Cerúndolo pulled off a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 upset.
Sinner opened up about his physical struggles after his loss, explaining that he began feeling “very dizzy” and “very low in energy” as the match progressed. While denying that the heat was the cause of his issues, he disclosed that he tried to stay competitive but had never felt “this weak” on the court before.
Agassi recently arrived at the French Open and joined the TNT Sports panel, where he highlighted a “flaw” in Sinner’s preparation for the hot conditions in Paris.
“Sinner going out was huge. I don’t know if you called him out enough on that though, by the way,” Agassi said. “To go from him playing five and a half hours last year in the final and having the heat tap him in an hour and 45 minutes. There’s a difference between being fit and being prepared. And I have to point at a flaw in that kind of preparation because there’s something you can do about that.”
Despite questioning Sinner’s preparation, Agassi clarified that his comments were not a criticism of the 24-year-old’s work ethic or fitness levels.
“It’s not that that dude doesn’t work hard. It’s not that he’s not fit. And he was one game away, and the whole draw opened up. I mean we all thought we’d see him here, maybe not even losing a set,” he added.
Given that Sinner also faced heat-related difficulties at this year’s Australian Open, the eight-time Grand Slam champion stressed that the Italian and his team must figure out the root cause of the recurring issue and make changes.
“They’re so scientific these days about their preps, about their recoveries, about all that. I’m sure he has a staff of doctors and people, but repeating the same thing twice and expecting different results? That’s where I call a little Yahtzee on all of it. He needs to figure out what to change. He may need to bring somebody in,” he said.
Agassi speculated that Sinner’s struggles may stem from inadequate hydration, saying there was “no excuse” for the world No. 1 to begin struggling physically less than two hours into a match.
“It’s got to be some form of hydration issue,” he added. “You have to force it. It’s better to have it in you and not need it than to need it and not have it. I’d question his intake and if he’s doing it properly. I just would. I know nothing about his preparation. I know he can play for five and a half hours. He’s proven it. I know he’s the best player on the planet right now. But I also know that there’s no excuse for him to run into a wall at an hour, 45 minutes.”
MORE: Carlos Alcaraz’s Portugal Trip Brings Hope As Jannik Sinner Unwinds in Monaco After French Open Exit
Jannik Sinner returned home to Monaco after his loss at the French Open and was spotted unwinding with a Vespa ride through the streets. The Italian now has time to regroup and recover before returning to action for his title defense at the Wimbledon Championships, which will begin on June 29.
