Italy’s Jannik Sinner gives a press conference after being defeated by Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in their men’s singles match on day 5 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 28, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP via Getty Images)
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Andre Agassi didn’t hold back in his criticism of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
The eight-time major champion said there was a “flaw” in Sinner’s preparation leading to his collapse from cramps against Juan Martin Cerundolo in the second round.
Sinner was one game from victory but instead was overcome by cramps and melted like an ice cube in the Paris sun, falling in five sets and seeing his 30-match winning streak snapped. The world No. 1 was stricken with cramps and took what Jim Courier called an “illegal medical timeout” during the third set of his eventual loss.
Speaking on TNT’s coverage of Roland Garros, Agassi said there was “no excuse” for him to “hit a wall” so soon into the match.
“Sinner going out was huge, and I don’t know if you called him out on that enough,” he said on set. “I had a body clock of about four hours when I played, and if you gave me hot conditions, it dropped to like, three-45, three-50, it didn’t change a lot.
“But to go from him playing five and a half hours last year in the finals and then having the heat tap him in an hour 45… there’s a difference between being fit and being prepared.
“I have to point at a flaw in that kind of preparation, because there’s something you can do about that. It’s not that that dude doesn’t work hard, that he’s not fit. He was one game away [from reaching the third round] and the whole draw opened up. We all thought we’d see him here, maybe not even losing a set.”
Sinner was the heavy favorite to win Roland Garros. In fact, he was the heaviest men’s favorite at a major since Rafael Nadal in Paris in 2009. He was a 76% favorite to win the tournament entering his match.
But the world No. 1 was stricken with cramps and took what Jim Courier called an “illegal medical timeout” during the third set.
“I’m sure he has a staff of doctors and people but repeating the same thing twice and expecting different results… he needs to figure out what to change,” Agassi siad. He may need to bring somebody in. It’s got to be some form of hydration issue.
“Before I went out there in Australia and played three out of five in hot conditions, I’m doing 10, 12 litres of water, you have to force it. It’s better to have it in you and not need it, than need it and not have it. I question his intake and if he’s doing it properly.
“He can play for five and a half hours, he’s proven it, he’s the best player on the planet right now. But I also know there’s no excuse for him to run into a wall at an hour 45.”
With Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic all out of the draw, there will be a first-time major winner on the men’s side.
“The nerves now are classic,” Agassi said. “They’re starting to bring in an element that you love watching, tennis does have nerves and I think nerves are taking centre stage now and we’re maybe going to see some tennis along with it.”