Tennis

What’s up with Jannik Sinner?

Physical preparation, tennis and tactical changes that haven't quite worked, and the pressure from an unstoppable Alcaraz are some of the keys to his decline.

NOUSHAD THEKKAYIL

Nacho Albarrán Andy Hall

Update: Feb 24th, 2026 12:56 EST

Last Thursday, Jannik Sinner was knocked out in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 in Doha — just days after falling in the Australian Open semifinals. For most players, two early exits wouldn’t mean much. But for the world No. 2 and a three‑time Grand Slam champion, the conversation has already shifted to “crisis.” Even Sinner admits he’s not at his best.

“Every player has ups and downs,” he said. “I’ve had two incredible years, and now I’m in a small dip, but I’m not worried. I know I can play better.”

And he’s right: the last two seasons were extraordinary. Despite testing positive for clostebol at Indian Wells in 2024 — a case that didn’t result in suspension until after he won the 2025 Australian Open — Sinner collected titles at a blistering pace. Melbourne, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati, the US Open, Shanghai… and by June, he had climbed to world No. 1 for the first time. He capped 2024 by winning the ATP Finals and leading Italy to the Davis Cup title.

Even after serving a three‑month suspension in 2025, he came back strong, winning Wimbledon, Beijing, Vienna, Paris, and another ATP Finals. But he also lost four major finals — Rome, Roland Garros, Cincinnati, and the US Open — all to Carlos Alcaraz. Those defeats stung, especially because Alcaraz also took back the No. 1 ranking.

So what’s behind Sinner’s current dip? Only he truly knows, but several factors stand out.

What’s up with Jannik Sinner? — Jannik Sinner, suffering from cramps during his match against Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open.LUKAS COCH

Physical preparation: a turbulent stretch

Ever since his marathon five‑set loss to Alcaraz at the 2022 US Open, Sinner understood he needed to match the Spaniard physically to beat him in long, brutal matches. His transformation was obvious — stronger, faster, more resilient.

But the clostebol case triggered major changes in his team. He dismissed his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, and his physio, Giacomo Naldi, whom he blamed for accidental contamination. Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio stepped in, but both were gone before Wimbledon 2025 after a comment Panichi made about the Roland Garros final reportedly upset Sinner.

By the US Open, Sinner had brought Ferrara back. But his conditioning has been questioned in Italy, especially after he collapsed from the heat in the third round of the 2026 Australian Open against Eliot Spizzirri. He also looked flat in his semifinal loss to 38‑year‑old Novak Djokovic — a match that hit him hard mentally, given how dominant he’d been against Djokovic recently.

Still, after Doha, Sinner insisted he feels good. “We’re working well. I had some issues after Australia, but now I feel pretty good again. Every player goes through tough stretches. I wouldn’t call this ‘fatigue’ yet.”

Alcaraz’s momentum isn’t helping

While Sinner has dipped, Alcaraz has only gotten stronger. Since Monte Carlo 2025, the Spaniard’s trajectory has been almost entirely upward, aside from a couple of late‑season losses. His Australian Open title this year — a tournament Sinner had owned the previous two seasons — was another psychological blow.

Sinner is obsessed with improving enough to beat Alcaraz. Alcaraz is obsessed with staying ahead. That dynamic fuels both — but right now, it’s adding pressure on the Italian.

Tactical changes that haven’t clicked yet

To counter Alcaraz’s variety and explosiveness, Sinner has been trying to expand his own game — adding more net play, adjusting his serve, and trying to become less predictable.

“We worked a lot on transitioning to the net,” he said before the Australian Open. “We made small adjustments to the serve. At this level, the little things make the difference.”

But after losing to Jakub Mensik in Doha, he admitted the changes aren’t fully landing.

“I’m trying to add a couple of new things. This time they didn’t work as well as I wanted, but not every day is the same.”

Federica Cocchi of La Gazzetta dello Sport, who has followed Sinner for years, put it bluntly: “He looks sad. It’s not about losing two matches — it’s his attitude and the moment he’s in. He’s outside his comfort zone, still unsure of what he wants to do on court.”

Coaching changes? unlikely... for now

There was speculation that Carlos Moyá — Rafael Nadal’s longtime coach — might join Sinner’s team after Darren Cahill briefly considered stepping away. That never materialized.

After Alcaraz split with Juan Carlos Ferrero, rumors swirled again, especially since Ferrero has said he’d like to coach an established player. But for now, he’s working as a mental coach for Spanish golfer Ángel Ayora.

Meanwhile, Sinner’s agent, former player Alex Vittur, is close friends with Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner’s current coach. And Cahill, who postponed retirement, plans to stay on tour all season.

Still, many Italian analysts believe Sinner would benefit from a fresh voice in his camp.