2026-06-05 10:59:08

Jannik Sinner’s preparation for the French Open has been questioned by tennis legend Andre Agassi.

The world number one capitulated in the heat as he was beaten in five sets by Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round at Roland Garros last week and the eight-time Grand Slam winner has questioned whether a “hydration issue” caused the Italian player’s problems.

Agassi told TNT Sports: “Sinner going out was huge. I don’t know if you’ve called him out on that enough by the way.

“I had a body clock of about four hours when I played, and if you gave me hot conditions it dropped to about three hours 45. It didn’t change a lot. Maybe if you gave me great conditions I could stretch it to four hours 10.

“But [for Sinner] to go from him playing five-and-a-half hours last year in the final, to having the heat tap him in one hour 45…

“There’s a difference between being fit and being prepared, and I have to point to 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, it’s not that he isn’t fit – he was one game away [from winning] and then the whole draw would have opened up. We all thought we’d see him here, maybe not lose a set.”

Sinner put his shock exit in Paris down to illness but Agassi feels that there is “no excuse” for the four-time major champion to struggle so badly on court.

The former world number one said: “They’re so scientific these days about their prep, about their recovery. I’m sure he has a staff of doctors and people.

“He needs to figure out what to change. He may need to bring somebody in. It’s got to be some form of a hydration issue.

“I know before I went out in Australia and played in a three out of five in hot conditions, I was doing 10 to 12 litres of water within 24 hours of that match. Plus my four-to-one ratio of protein over carbs.

“You have to force it, and it’s better to have it in you and not need it, than need it and not have it. I’d question his intake and if he’s doing it properly.

“I know nothing about his preparation. I know that 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 there’s no excuse for him to run into a wall at an hour 45.”

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