Andre Agassi calls out Jannik Sinner for ‘flawed’ French Open preparation | Tennis | Sport
Jannik Sinner suffered a shock second-round defeat in the French Open (Image: Getty)
Tennis legend Andre Agassi has told Jannik Sinner that he needs to change his approach to dealing with heat, following his shock French Open exit. The World number one fell to defeat against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round.
Sinner held a two set and 5-1 lead, before Cerundolo completed a dramatic turnaround to win 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. The match was played in sweltering heat, and it wasn’t the first time Sinner has struggled in high temperatures.
”Sinner going out was huge,” Agassi told TNT Sports. ”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 fina (vs Carlos Alcaraz)l, to having the heat tap him in one hour 45…
Jannik Sinner was knocked out (Image: Getty)
”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.”
Following the game, Sinner played down the impact of the heat but admitted he ran out of energy. He took a medical time out in the third set, where he could be heard saying that he felt dizzy.
”They’re so scientific these days about their prep, about their recovery. I’m sure he has a staff of doctors and people,” Agassi said.
”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.”
With Alcaraz missing through injury, Sinner went into the French Open as clear favourite as he looked to complete the career Grand Slam. Instead it will be Flavio Cobolli vs Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final.
