Jannik Sinner and his girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya were subjected to scrutiny from Italian media following his withdrawal from the 2024 Paris Olympics. The “uncomfortable” undertones did not sit well with tennis fans online.

Sinner just pulled out of the event in Paris, where he was the top seed in singles and men’s doubles with Lorenzo Musetti. He cited tonsillitis as the cause for his no-show, adding the doctor “strongly advised” him against playing. The Italian, who also missing the Tokyo Olympics, called his latest departure a “huge disappointment.”

Italian news site Corriere della Sera, though, claimed that Jannik Sinner’s new relationship with Anna Kalinskaya may have had a role in his decision to withdraw.

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Andy Murray flaunts personalized pin received from gymnastics legend Simone Biles during Paris Olympics 2024 “Why Sinner is giving up the Olympics: tonsillitis, fever and that dedication that is difficult to reconcile with age and a new love,” the article’s title said (translated from Italian).

Kalinskaya was drawn into the debate concerning Sinner’s Wimbledon quarterfinal exit against old rival Daniil Medvedev and the couple’s Sardinia getaway that followed.

“Sinner, in love – it’s not a crime – was eliminated in London by Medvedev and left for a weekend in Costa Smeralda with Kalinskaya, who takes advantage of the opportunity in Sardinia to visit her best friend,” the story said.
“The feeling is that, at 22, Jannik is having a bit of trouble reconciling the rigorous dedication that high-level tennis requires of him with the legitimate desire to living his age and new love.”

The claims have Italian tennis fans seething.

“What is difficult for you, however, is minding your own business without carrying out psychological analyses on a 22-year-old boy,” one fan wrote on X (translated from Italian).

Another admirer blasted the site for attributing Jannik Sinner’s hiccups on Anna Kalinskaya.

“Chosen to talk about sport the same stance as the fools on football Twitter who do the fishing by blaming the girlfriends for the bad times of the athletes. the most significant newspaper in Italy, mind you,” the fan wrote.

This is not the first time the couple has come under scrutiny. When the World No. 1 hinted at illness after his Wimbledon loss, he was questioned regarding his decision to attend his girlfriend’s matches, which according to the site, jeopardized his health.

One fan blasted the constantly shifting storylines around Sinner, from being lauded ‘the national hero’ following his Davis Cup and Australian Open victory, to being pulled apart for his personal decisions.

“There’s been a lot of craziness going on about Sinner for days. First a national hero, but since he made a PERSONAL choice (aside physical issues) down articles ‘he thinks more about f***ing than performing’ as if a multiplicity of other players aren’t in relationships.” (translated from Italian).
“My goodness, this title is uncomfortable… worthy of the worst tabloids,” another fan said.
“You are hopeless, I would be very happy if Jannik bothered and changed his citizenship,” still another fan wrote.