Boris Becker Questions Jannik Sinner’s Physical Condition After Struggling in Extreme Heat at the Australian Open
Jannik Sinner is now on a 17-match winning streak at the Australian Open.
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Boris Becker and Jannik Sinner (via ATP Tour.com)
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It was supposed to be a routine third-round match. Jannik Sinner, the defending champion and world No. 2, was facing Eliot Spizzirri—a talented player, sure, but not someone anyone expected to push the Italian superstar to the absolute brink. Yet, at the Rod Laver Arena, watching one of the fittest athletes in the world look like he was about to collapse.
While the heat rule sparked arguments on Twitter, tennis legend Boris Becker was looking at the bigger picture. He wasn’t just concerned about the temperature; he was worried about Sinner’s fundamental ability to go the distance.
Speaking after the match, Becker voiced a concern that has been whispered through the tennis world for a while now. He questioned whether Sinner’s struggle was purely physical or if there was a mental component to his breakdown in tough conditions. Becker said on Eurosport:
You have to drink a lot and make sure you stay in the shade. But it’s also a question of physical condition. The match reminds me of the one a year ago against Rune in the fourth round, where it was exactly the same thing. With Jannik, I don’t know if it’s a physical or mental problem, because at the beginning of the third set, he was still in good shape, but of course, it was incredibly hot.
In an era where rivals like Carlos Alcaraz seem to thrive in marathon five-setters, Sinner’s tendency to fade when the going gets tough—and hot—is a liability. According to Becker, if Sinner wants to dominate the tour for years to come, he can’t rely on the roof closing to save him.
The controversy on Jannik Sinner
Tennis fans are a passionate bunch, and they know when momentum has been artificially stifled. Just as Spizzirri was locking in, tournament officials invoked the extreme heat rule. The match paused. For eight minutes, Jannik Sinner sat, breathed, and regrouped while the stadium transformed into an indoor arena.
The temperature was climbing past 35°C (95°F). Sinner wasn’t just sweating; he was visibly fading. When the cramps set in during the third set, the momentum shifted violently. Spizzirri broke serve. He was leading 3-1. The upset wasn’t just possible; it looked inevitable.
When play resumed, the Sinner who returned to the court was a different player. The cramps seemed manageable.
Sinner regained his serve punch, seized the set, and clinched the match in four. He called it luck in timing afterward. To Spizzirri and viewers, it played more like a crucial lifeline. It begs the question: Did the defending champ win because he was better, or because the rules gave him a break exactly when he needed it?
What’s next for the defending champ Jannik Sinner?
Jannik Sinner is through to the next round, and in the record books, a win is a win. But the aura of invincibility has taken a hit. He survived Spizzirri, but the road doesn’t get easier from here. As the tournament progresses, opponents get tougher, and matches get longer.
The tennis world will be watching his next match closely—not just for his winners, but for his body language. Is he hydrating enough? Is he shrinking between points? The question mark will rise if he has any more day session matches in the tournament.
Last year, there were multiple occasions when Sinner was extinguished due to cramps. Last year at the Australian Open, he struggled physically because of the heat against Holger Rune. Then, in the Shanghai Masters, he had to pull out of his match against Tallon Griekspoor because of the same situation.
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