French influencer upsets Jannik Sinner’s fans

Jannik Sinner’s absence from the tennis courts has drawn the attention of the international media: The controversy stems from comments coming out of France, specifically from “Monsieur Volée,” the pseudonym of a sports influencer who, through his podcast “Service Volée,” is a go-to source for tennis fans across the Alps. The podcast’s creator, appearing as a guest on another web show, “Sans Filet,” criticized the Italian champion’s attitude and communication strategy, sparking a fiery reaction from fans on social media.

One of the harshest points of his critique, in particular, concerns the Italian tennis player’s decision to return to the court for the Six Kings Slam, the exhibition tournament in Riyadh rescheduled for late December after the cancellation of its original October date. The influencer didn’t mince words, stating quite bluntly: “I find the decision to return by taking part in an event like this—after previously implying he wouldn’t go—to be a lapse in judgment.”

The main crux of the controversy, however, concerns the perception of Sinner’s communication and that of his staff: “I really have a hard time following his communication strategy; I often don’t understand where he’s going with it,” the influencer explained. Take his injuries: we never know exactly what’s wrong with him. Is it his knee? Is it a hip issue? It’s all extremely confusing. I don’t know if it’s mistrust or simply the team’s desire to protect him, but I find Sinner’s communication to be off the mark.”

The comments from the podcast obviously didn’t go unnoticed by the tennis player’s fan base, which immediately responded on social media, fiercely defending the Italian number one’s discretion and professionalism. Sinner’s supporters pointed out that his strict and tightly guarded management of his private life and health is actually a strength rather than a flaw, and that the nature of the injury keeping him sidelined (iliotibial band syndrome) has been known for weeks, without any particular need for secrecy.

As further practical examples, fans recalled his decision to maintain the utmost discretion during other delicate recovery periods, which led to his withdrawal from the 2024 Olympic Games and his absence from the 2025 Davis Cup, a course of action that has consistently avoided media speculation and allowed Jannik to focus solely on his work on the court and on protecting his image.