Jannik Sinner eliminated, some say it’s the fault of the… hair

Jannik Sinner’s surprising elimination in the second round of Roland Garros continues to cause discussion. In addition to the purely technical aspect, the debate has also focused on the environmental conditions that may have affected the performance of the world number one, particularly the heat and the time of the match.

Intervening in the studios of Eurosport, former U.S. tennis player John Isner made some remarks on the possible impact of high temperatures on the Italian champion. According to Isner, the organizers’ choice to schedule Sinner in the day session may have had a bearing on the match’s economy.

“Sinner had made his debut in the evening session, and I am convinced that if he qualified for the next round, he would play again in the evening,” the American explained. “The organizers, however, did not want him to play the entire first week exclusively at night. Their plans were simply disrupted by the elimination.”

Isner went on to emphasize the exceptional form Sinner had shown in recent months, praising the work done by his staff. “It is clear that he was going through an extraordinary period. He and his team take care of every detail of the preparation, from nutrition to hydration, with great professionalism.”

The former U.S. number one finally addressed what he believes could be a point of vulnerability for the South Tyrolean tennis player. “I think his physical constitution does not particularly help him in extreme heat. Athletes with very light skin and red hair often suffer more from high temperatures. It would be interesting to hear Jim Courier’s opinion on this issue as well. I think some physical characteristics may make it more difficult to disperse body heat and increase sensitivity to particularly muggy weather conditions.”