Sinner Faces Harsh Criticism from International Fans over Controversial Incident at Australian Open: The Most Disliked Player

Last Saturday, the relentless heat severely tested Sinner as the Italian struggled through his third-round match against American player Eliot Spizzirri. With temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius, the conditions became extremely harsh. Sinner suffered from cramping and showed clear signs of physical distress. Fortunately, thanks to the Australian Open’s extreme heat policy, the match was briefly paused, allowing the world No. 2 to recover and stage a crucial break back. However, an incident during the match sparked dissatisfaction among fans.

At 1-3 in the third set during the break, broadcast cameras captured a notable moment: Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, was seen speaking with tournament director Craig Tiley. Although the conversation was brief, it quickly stirred controversy online. Shortly after, Cahill turned to check on Sinner, who had just entered the court.

A user on platform X posted the footage with the comment: “Darren Cahill was jogging alongside Craig Tiley, trying to prevent his player from collapsing in the heat. Wow, tennis, you really have changed for the worse.”

Meanwhile, due to the extreme heat, the roof over the court was closed during Sinner’s match. Some fans viewed this as an unfair interruption, implying it favored the struggling Italian player. After play resumed indoors, Sinner gradually regained his rhythm, winning three consecutive sets to come back from behind with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

Even Sinner himself admitted, “I was physically struggling today. I know I was a bit lucky under the heat rule with the roof closing. It gave me time, and as time went on, I felt better.” Yet not everyone agreed; many fans expressed dissatisfaction on social media, especially after noticing Cahill’s conversation with the tournament director.

One fan wrote on X: “They need to explain this properly. It doesn’t look good.” So why was the roof closed during Sinner’s match? The Australian Open enforces an “Extreme Heat Policy,” developed based on 2019 research into heat’s effects on players. This policy considers radiant heat, shaded temperature, humidity, and wind speed, all combined into the WBGT index for assessment.

In best-of-three singles matches, if the WBGT index reaches or exceeds 30.1 degrees Celsius during the first two sets, cooling measures are triggered. Once activated, either player can request a 10-minute cooling break after the second set, and this rule applies equally to both players.

Sinner’s match against Spizzirri was exactly such a case; the rule came into effect just as Sinner began cramping, granting him a brief but crucial recovery window. However, some fans disagreed. Another wrote, “If this is true, it only proves Sinner’s team is being sneaky.”

Over the past two years, Sinner and his team have been under intense scrutiny. This stems from two positive tests for the banned substance Clostebol by ITIA in March 2024. Sinner served a three-month suspension from February to May 2025, but the controversy has never fully faded.

Players like Nick Kyrgios and Stan Wawrinka have openly expressed their dissatisfaction, fueling the ongoing controversy. Before the 2026 Australian Open, Sinner admitted that the experience was a huge challenge but made him tougher and more composed. Still, this new dispute has undoubtedly deepened the complex public perception of him and his team.

As one fan said, “This really doesn’t help Sinner. At this rate, he might become the most disliked player on tour.” Others questioned why Cahill was allowed to speak with the tournament director during the break. One fan bluntly asked, “What gives him the right to talk to the tournament director?”

It should be noted that Cahill is not only Sinner’s coach but also one of the most respected figures in the sport. The former pro reached world No. 22 in 1989 and later transitioned to coaching, guiding players like Hewitt, Agassi, Stephens, Halep, and now Sinner—all of whom won Grand Slam titles under his mentorship.

Additionally, Cahill is a familiar face in tennis, serving long-term as an ESPN commentator and advisor with extensive connections on the tour. Therefore, although he was seen talking with Craig Tiley, it does not necessarily imply any advantage for Sinner. Neither party has disclosed the content of their conversation.

Despite fans harshly criticizing Sinner and the tournament for the sudden roof closure, the underlying reason is actually quite straightforward.

As one fan stated, “This is a huge overreaction. If the Australian Open really favored Sinner in the rules, why schedule his match during the day? Djokovic actually played at night. The heat rule is the heat rule, and it’s applied objectively.”

The facts support this. Sinner’s match was a day session starting at noon local time, while his previous round against Duckworth was scheduled at 7 p.m. Players cannot choose their match times or conditions; these are entirely decided by the tournament.

In fact, the Australian Open is currently the only Grand Slam that explicitly enforces the “heat rule” in ATP events. Unlike his 2025 Shanghai Masters third-round retirement due to cramping, this time the rule worked in his favor.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)