Sinner responds to doubts amid form slump, Alcaraz’s comments on Italian’s exit hailed as refreshingly honest

Despite having departed from Doha early and missing the final showdown against Alcaraz, the conversation around the Italian’s exit remains ongoing. The rumors about Sinner being in a form downturn have almost sparked a media frenzy. Recently, Sinner finally spoke out to respond to this delicate issue.

Prior to meeting Menšík, Sinner was regarded as the unquestionable favorite to claim the Doha 500 title. The reason lies in the Italian’s formidable hard-court strength; apart from withdrawing mid-tournament at last year’s Shanghai Masters, Sinner clinched titles in Beijing, Vienna, Paris, and Turin’s year-end finals, earning him the nickname of conquering Asia to Europe undefeated!

However, nobody expected that the match against Menšík in Doha would become a nightmare for the Italian, as Sinner suffered a shocking upset after a grueling three-set battle. Shortly after the new season started, he faced heavy setbacks in two major events, falling far behind his longtime rival Alcaraz, which stunned the public.

Some fans compared Sinner’s situation to Djokovic’s, noting that some players’ declines are gradual while others fall abruptly like a plummeting object, catching everyone off guard.

Djokovic’s 2023 season was spectacular; ignoring other tournaments, he reached the finals of all four Grand Slams, ultimately winning three titles and finishing runner-up once. Many believed 2024 would continue to be a highlight year for the Serbian star, but surprisingly, Djokovic failed to secure any Grand Slam titles, which shocked many.

Now, observers seem to see a similar awkward situation in Sinner’s case as Djokovic experienced, making it reasonable to speculate whether the Italian is currently in a slump.

“I know I can perform at a higher level, but Menšík played very well, especially with his serving. Every professional athlete experiences ups and downs. My goal is always to win whenever I compete, so facing challenges is normal. I’ve been through worse situations before and know how to bounce back,” Sinner said. From his perspective, Menšík’s strong performance and victory shouldn’t be overblown; no one can win all the time, so losing is natural. Moreover, he has faced more frustrating losses in the past than this Doha defeat and overcame them, so he can do the same now.

Additionally, Sinner emphasized that his loss to Djokovic at the Australian Open was due to not being in top form, but by the time of Doha, those issues had been resolved. The defeat against Menšík was simply caused by some mistakes in handling crucial points, nothing more.

Regarding the widespread talk about his supposed slump potentially halting his tennis career, Sinner gave a straightforward answer: “Every player goes through bottlenecks, but I don’t believe I’m in trouble now. I have lost some important matches, but competing against top players is valuable experience. I always remember the achievements of the past three years—I’ve won many matches and rarely lost. I still have the confidence needed to challenge the best.”

Sinner’s remarks have reassured his supporters, indicating that his loss to Menšík in Doha was just an isolated incident, unrelated to a form collapse or career crisis. As a common saying goes in life, “Everyone stumbles sometimes; it’s perfectly normal.”

However, some fans and netizens remain skeptical about whether Sinner’s slump is real or not. The upcoming North American Sunshine Double is seen as his chance to prove himself. The Italian missed these events last year due to suspension, and this year these tournaments are considered the best opportunity for him to close the gap with Alcaraz. Many are eagerly watching his performance.

Now that Sinner has explained the doubts triggered by his Doha exit, how does Alcaraz view the Italian’s elimination? The Spaniard has also publicly responded to this matter for the first time!

“Honestly, I was quite surprised. Players like Sinner rarely lose before finals or semifinals. But at the same time, I’m not entirely shocked because some players can get ‘crazy’ dangerous on tour. For example, Menšík has a very high level but lacks consistency. On that day, he could beat anyone, just like he beat Sinner. Of course, he could also beat me,” Alcaraz admitted. He finds Sinner’s Doha exit both surprising and understandable upon reflection.

What Alcaraz means is that Sinner faced a wildly performing Menšík, and against such an opponent, losing is not just possible for Sinner but even for himself, since he and the Italian are not yet invincible rivals.

Alcaraz’s thoughtful words have been widely praised as refreshingly realistic, reminding everyone that they are human, not gods, and cannot always be unbeatable.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)