ATP Legend Slams Jannik Sinner’s Critic For Exaggerating the World No.2’s Results this Season

Jannik Sinner is set to return to the court at the Indian Wells, which begins on March 4.

ATP Legend Slams Jannik Sinner’s Critic For Exaggerating the World No.2’s Results this Season

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

In Short
  • Adriano Panatta defends Jannik Sinner against claims of a crisis following two losses this season.
  • Sinner has a 7-2 win-loss record this season, including a semi-final run at the Australian Open.
  • Panatta criticizes critics for overlooking Sinner's achievements and the quality of his opponents.

ATP Legend Adriano Panatta has dismissed suggestions that Jannik Sinner is going through a crisis period in his career, firmly pushing back against critics who aim to exaggerate the Italian star’s two losses this season. Sinner opened the season with a semi-final run at the Australian Open and a quarter-finals exit in Doha.

In two tournaments this season, Sinner has not lived up to expectations. The 24-year-old was the favorite to win the Australian Open but ended up losing to Novak Djokovic in the last four, marking an end to two year reign at the tournament, where he claimed his maiden Grand Slam in 2024 after beating Daniil Medvedev.

Days ago, he lost in three sets to World No.13 Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open. This still leaves the World No.2 with a good win-loss 7-2 record on tour this season. However, some analysts have suggested that Sinner’s uncharacteristic start to the season since 2024 might be a sign that he’s experiencing a downturn.

Sinner has achieved remarkable consistency on the court since 2024, a feat that even his arch-rival, Carlos Alcaraz, has not matched. The Italian star has recorded just 14 match losses since two seasons ago. In fact, last year, he reached the final in 10 of the 12 tournaments he played, with one event ending in retirement.

Heading into the third month of the new season, Sinner is still without a title. During an interview on Rai Sport, Panatta suggested that perspective has been lost in the discussion surrounding Sinner’s start to the year. The former Grand Slam winner pointed out that the level of opposition and competitive margins have been overlooked:

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. Those who don’t know him (Mensik) think it was a defeat against an unknown, but that’s not exactly the case. 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.

While Sinner has struggled, Alcaraz has flourished this season. The World No.1 won the Australian Open and the ATP 500 tournament in Doha. He’s yet to taste a defeat in 2026 and has cemented his place at the top of the ATP rankings. He will seeking to extend his run of form in Indian Wells as a two-time champion.

Adriano Panatta says critics forget that Jannik Sinner can still make mistakes

Each time there’s a debate or conversation about Jannik Sinner, it often leads to his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, who toppled the Italian star from the top of the ATP rankings in September last year. Last year, the duo met six times on the court, all coming in the final of a tournament, including three in Grand Slam events.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

However, Alcaraz leads in their head-to-head record 10-6 and won two of the three Grand Slam final meetings last year. During the aforementioned interview, Adriano Panatta revealed that critics fail to forget that Sinner is like any other player on tour, who must win some match and lose some every season:

But where does the criticism come from? From improvised coaches who talk too much and don’t know what they’re talking about. 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. In sports, you can make mistakes, and Jannik isn’t immune to this. He wins a lot and sometimes he loses. That’s normal.

Sinner and Alcaraz are expected to be back on the court next week in Indian Wells. The ATP Masters 1000 tournament will kick off on March 4. Alcaraz won the event in 2023 and 2024, while reaching the semi-finals last year. Sinner’s best record at the event is reaching the semi-finals in 2023 and 2024.

Also Read: Sam Querrey and Jack Sock Think Carlos Alcaraz Should’ve Earned More Qatar Open Appearance Fees Than Jannik Sinner: “He Sells Tickets”