Sinner’s compatriots say his physical condition is worse than Djokovic’s, calling his participation in the China Open a mistake, and Ziwei’s injury puts the season in doubt.

Recently, Italian player Paolo Bertolucci, a compatriot of Sinner, mentioned Sinner’s repeated withdrawals this season, publicly criticizing him for being “physically too fragile” and suspecting that improper scheduling is the main reason behind his recurring physical problems.

At the same time, German tennis star Alexander Zverev confessed that he is heavily troubled by injuries, with a recent shoulder injury possibly forcing him to end his season.

Bertolucci, serving as a commentator for Sky Sports Italy, sharply criticized his fellow Italian Sinner. He bluntly stated, “It’s a pity because he had great potential here. But this young man is just too fragile. Sometimes cramps, sometimes stomach pain, elbow issues, blisters, hip injuries keep popping up… there are just too many problems.”

He further stressed a harsh comparison: “It’s clear that his physical condition now is far inferior to Djokovic’s or Alcaraz’s. Because this is no longer news.”

Notably, Sinner retired from the Cincinnati final this year when trailing 0-5 due to gastrointestinal illness, and recently at the Shanghai Masters, he was forced to withdraw in the deciding set because of severe heatstroke and cramps. Besides these, Sinner also faced serious injuries at this year’s Australian Open, just before the French Open, and Wimbledon, but managed to persevere.

In light of this, Bertolucci questioned, “So many incidents have happened! I think a big part of the problem lies in his scheduling. Honestly, after losing the US Open final, was it really necessary to play in Beijing?”

Bertolucci directly pinpointed the core issue. In his view, the reason Sinner competes so often is obvious: for points, rankings, and the world number one spot. But he also remarked, “If the body can no longer handle it, what’s the point?”

However, Bertolucci has also defended Sinner’s decision to withdraw. When Sinner pulled out of the Canadian Masters, he expressed support: “Those criticizing Sinner’s withdrawal don’t understand the situation. Maintaining form and health is crucial in tennis.”

He believes that for top players like Sinner, the goal should be to compete for Grand Slams, not every single tournament.

Opinions among netizens on social media are divided regarding this viewpoint. Some believe Sinner’s injury issues are exaggerated.

One commenter said, “In many cases, it’s hard to tell if Sinner really has injuries, like the elbow issue at Wimbledon — did it actually stop him from winning? If wearing an elbow brace means injury, then China’s top player Zheng Qinwen has been wearing hers for over half a year, so would that mean she’s injured every day? And the pain vanished so quickly? That’s clearly another medical miracle!”

However, more rational voices call for respecting athletes’ physical conditions. One user pointed out, “Playing in Shanghai’s weather is brutal,” showing understanding for players competing in hot and humid conditions.

Still, many believe Sinner faces the typical dilemma of elite tennis players — balancing ranking points and physical health. For players, traveling between exhausting tournaments is sometimes unavoidable, just asBertolucci said: “Sometimes, Sinner really pushes himself too hard.”

While Sinner faces criticism due to injury troubles, German tennis star Zverev has also delivered bad news. After the six major tournaments, Zverev revealed, “This year has been physically tough; I’ve had many problems and injuries. Unfortunately, today I suffered another one.”

He explained the situation in detail: “I injured my shoulder today, which is unfortunate because I had been training well in the past few days. It happened during warm-up, so it’s a bit unlucky for me.”

Zverev said he needs to discuss the severity of the injury with his team: “Now I have to talk with my team and physiotherapists about what exactly we need to do and how long it will take.”

Zverev’s recent form has been far from ideal. He has disclosed in interviews that he is going through a confidence crisis.

“I am currently fighting a real battle with myself because I lack confidence in my playing ability. I actually don’t believe in myself at all, lacking confidence and faith.”

He frankly admitted, “My tennis performance has been terrible, and my results this season have been poor.”

Zverev also revealed that his physical health problems have not just appeared recently: “Since the Australian tournament, my physical condition has been poor, and my back injury hasn’t improved.”

Zverev’s current situation has caused concern among many fans. Some believe that considering his underlying health issues, his future career may become more difficult. Others think the combined mental and physical strain might force the German to skip the upcoming Paris Masters and the year-end finals, since for him, Grand Slam titles remain the ultimate priority.

In any case, it is clear from Zverev’s own words that his injuries are real. Since the French Open, his form has steadily declined. Will he choose to rest and prepare for next year, or will he drag his increasingly burdened body through the rest of the season? Let’s wait and see!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Lu Xiaotian)