’Was Pretty Adamant’ — Jim Courier’s Claims During Jannik Sinner Match Draw Ex-Pro’s Reaction

Jannik Sinner’s shocking second-round collapse at the 2026 French Open was chaotic for multiple reasons. Sinner was visibly struggling with cramping and nausea, but his medical timeout also sparked a debate over double standards in the sport. As the world No. 1 wilted in the 32°C (90°F) Parisian heat, the way his situation was handled drew criticism from commentator Jim Courier. And now, former ATP pro Steve Johnson also believes that Sinner was given a privilege that lower-ranked players would never get.

Steve Johnson Backs Jim Courier’s Claim That Sinner Got ‘Special Treatment’ at French Open

On Court Philippe-Chatrier yesterday, Sinner was completely leading against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, by 6-3, 6-2, 5-1, and sitting just four points away from a routine victory. But suddenly, the Italian’s body gave out. He complained to the umpire about dizziness and nausea, stopped play, and was eventually granted a medical timeout (MTO) off the court in an air-conditioned room to be examined.

Under ATP and Grand Slam rules, players are not permitted to take medical timeouts for general fatigue or cramping. They are reserved strictly for serious medical conditions or distinct injuries.

During the TNT Sports broadcast, tennis legend and analyst Courier immediately noted that Sinner was clearly suffering from heat-induced cramping rather than an acute injury.

Courier blasted the chair umpire for not starting the serve clock and for giving the top seed the benefit of the doubt. “This is unquestionably not an injury. This is unfair for Cerundolo,” he argued during the live commentary. “The clock should be counting. He should be getting penalized for this. He is reacting to different areas of his body… This is clearly cramping.”

MORE: Why Did Jannik Sinner Stop French Open Match Mid-Game? Brutal Conditions and Chair Umpire Exchange

Reacting to the controversyon the “Nothing Major” podcast, former world No. 21 Johnson also did not hold back, agreeing with Courier.

“Yeah, it’s crazy,” Johnson said. “I think it’s the first time he’s gotten called out for maybe some favorable treatment. Courier was pretty adamant that what he’s getting is not fair, and he’s completely right.”

“You don’t get time. You don’t get that kind of treatment for anybody else for cramping,” Johnson added. “So, I felt like he got a little bit of special treatment today. It didn’t help obviously, but I felt as if they were kind of playing it up. ‘He’s not scared of the heat.’”

KEEP READING: ‘This Is His Moment’ – Andy Roddick Explains What Jannik Sinner’s Loss Means for Alexander Zverev at French Open

This mid-match physical struggle isn’t an isolated incident for Sinner. And so is the medical timeout. During this year’s Italian Open semifinal, Sinner received a similar, highly scrutinized medical timeout while struggling physically against Daniil Medvedev. The Russian had also complained to the umpire about Sinner getting a timeout for cramp and fatigue. “If medical would be allowed for cramps, there would be no problem, so this is a solution,” said Medvedev.

With the loss, Sinner will now focus on his health and prepare for the grass-court season, especially Wimbledon. Meanwhile, Cerundolo will face Martin Landaluce in teh third round tomorrow.