Bertolucci takes aim at Sinner: "One time it's cramps, another time it's the stomach"

Paolo Bertolucci, former world No. 12 and respected voice of Italian tennis, has criticized his compatriot Jannik Sinner. Appearing on Sky Sport Italia, he commented on the latter's withdrawal in Shanghai.

"It's a shame, he had a real chance here. But the boy is a bit fragile. One time it's cramps, another time it's the stomach, the elbow, blisters, the hip... It's starting to add up. What's certain is that he doesn't have the same physical toughness as Djokovic or Alcaraz. It's no longer a surprise. But let's keep things in perspective: in this tragedy, we're still talking about the world No. 2."

More than just a physical issue, Bertolucci adds another layer and questions poor schedule management:

"All this in just a month and a half! Frankly, was it necessary to go to Beijing? We know the answer: points, rankings, the race for No. 1... But what's the point if your body can't keep up? Yes, his season was shortened by that stupid suspension, but that doesn't change the core issue. Sinner is pushing the rope too hard."