Tennis commentator Robbie Koenig has raised questions over Jannik Sinner’s coach Simone Vagnozzi that has taken a toll on the Italian’s tennis.
The former ATP star pointed out that Vagnozzi urged the 2024 Australian Open champion to keep playing at the Madrid Open when his charge was not competing without pain.
Sinner was potentially carrying a hip issue at the Madrid Open and ultimately withdrew from the event before his last 8 clash with Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The World #2 eventually pulled out of the home event at Foro Italico after the persisting hip pain. Sinner is now also not sure about his Roland Garros participation. Alongside fellow coach Darren Cahill, Vagnozzi has made a big impact on 22-year-old’s game since joining forces with him in 2022.
Since the 2023 US Open in September, Sinner has clinched five titles and lost only four matches. He also led the Italy to the Davis Cup glory and secured his maiden major crown at the Australian Open earlier in January.
In a post on Twitter, Koenig, a former ATP #28 and 5-time ATP doubles titlist, expressed his uncensored thoughts on the management of Italian’s injury.
“Will be sad if Sinner misses RG, man I love watching him compete.”
“One thing I’ll never understand though, is a player asking his team if he should continue… JS clearly in discomfort in Madrid, Simone urging him to carry on after Jannik said “it hurts” (groin area).
“Could prove to be a costly decision. Only the player knows how bad their injury feels. I had a bad feeling at the time that this could come back to bite, Jannik.
“To miss Rome and (perhaps) RG (Roland Garros), would confirm it was the wrong decision to keep playing in Madrid, IMO,” wrote the South African
Koenig added in another tweet: “I’m not confusing niggles with pain… you’re right, most players play with discomfort somewhere, but this was different. You don’t see him saying “it hurts” every other week. That was the red flag for me.”