Rusedski shrugs off sinner's early season struggles, back to grand slam belief

Rusedski offers reassurance to jannik sinner after early losses

Tennis legend Greg Rusedski isn't worried about Jannik Sinner's slightly shaky start to the 2026 tennis season. After losing in the semifinals of the Australian Open to Novak Djokovic and being upset in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open by Jakub Mensik, questions have arisen about Sinner's form. However, Rusedski believes these are minor inconsistencies and not cause for major concern, especially heading into the Grand Slam events.

Australian open semifinal: djokovic's dominance

The Australian Open saw a familiar path for Novak Djokovic, facing off against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Djokovic ultimately prevailed in five sets (3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4), preventing a repeat of Sinner's 2024 and 2025 victories. Rusedski highlighted Djokovic's exceptional performance, noting that Sinner won more points in each category except the final point.

Doha upset: mensik stuns sinner

The Qatar Open in Doha provided an even bigger surprise when Jannik Sinner was defeated by Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals. This loss, coming after a relatively clean run through the tournament, raised eyebrows. Rusedski considers losing two matches without winning a tournament a rarity, but isn't convinced it indicates a significant dip in Sinner's level.

Is sinner facing a form crisis? rusedski weighs in