Cincinnati, August 2025– The legend of Tennis Adriano Panatta has never been a person to retain his opinions. But his latest comments to the Open of Cincinnati turned on a storm of disputes, shaking the foundations of one of the most prestigious tournaments of the ATP tour. In a declaration of bombs, Panatta lashed at the CEO of the tournament, accusing him of having promoted a “toxic boycott” against the sinner of Jannik and of ignoring the struggles for the mental health of the Italian star.

The observations arrived during a surprise apparition that few anticipated. While Sinner’s shocking exit from The Cincinnati Open had already left the fans amazed, Panatta’s fiery intervention assured that the conversation moved from the results on the field to the politics and well -being of the players.

Standing in front of journalists, Panatta, the charismatic French open champion of 1976, spoke with passion and anger.

“It is not guilty, it is the number 1 in the world. Not a player like this”,He declared Panatta, banging his fist on the podium.“The tournament has allowed a toxic environment to grow, where the sinner is unjustly targeted and isolated. This is not competition, it is a boycott under bare minds.”

The comments were addressed directly to the Cincinnati Cincinnati Open Mark Whitmore, who faced increasing criticisms on how the tournament managed the backlash against the sinner. After Sinner’s victory in the edition of last year, the sections of the Italian and American media accused him of arrogance and favoritism. At the event of this year, the whistles from parts of the crowd and whispers of the tension of the changing room room seemed to confirm that hostility had been poured outdoors.

Panatta went further, suggesting that Whitmore and the organizers of the tournament had ignored the worsening of Sinner’s mental health.

“This boy brings the weight of Italy, of the tennis of the world, on his shoulders. And instead of protecting him, you push him more into the fire. Virosa!”

Sources close to the sinner revealed that the 23 -year -old world championship n. 1 had fought with anxiety and fatigue in recent weeks, intensified by incessant control of the media and hostility of fans. While Sinner has never made an official statement, his submerged behavior in the press conferences has mentioned deeper struggles.

The fans were ready to gather behind Panatta’s words. On social media, hashtags like#StandwithSinnerE#BoyCottCincyTended in poche ore.

Whitmore, however, rejected the accusations as “foundationless”. In a strongly formulated response, he insisted that Cincinnati Open had always given priority to the well -being of the players.

“Adriano Panatta is entitled to his opinions, but his statements are not simply true. Our tournament supported Jannik Sinner from the moment he entered the court. Suggest that the opposite is an insult to our staff, our fans and sports itself.”

Despite the refutation, the cracks in the reputation of the tournament were already expanding. According to reports, the sponsors have expressed concern to be associated with “toxic” narratives, while the ATP experts discussed in silence if Panatta’s statements could lead to an official investigation on the treatment of players during important events.

Panatta’s explosion divided the tennis community. Some praised him as a hero for defending the sinner, while others accused him of exaggeration and granding. Former United States Star Andy Roddick weighed during Espn’s coverage:

“Look, I love Panatta’s passion. But we do not demand that Cincinnati Open is managing a conspiracy against the sinner. The players are whistled, criticized, this is sport. The question is: how do you manage?”

In the meantime, Italian fans have applauded Panatta for defending their compatriot. In Rome, a mural appeared during the night depicting the sinner with angel wings and words:“It’s not his fault – it’s number one.”(“It’s not his fault – it’s number 1.”)

In a rare emotional moment, Sinner finally faced the controversy after his defeat in the second round. Standing on the field, his voice trembled, said:

“I don’t want to fight. I just want to play tennis. Thanks to those who support me. Please respect everyone on this tour.”

He refused to face Panatta’s comments directly but thanked him privately, according to the Italian media. The insiders revealed that Sinner broke into tears after the game, comforted by his team.

In addition to the titles, Panatta’s accusations have rekindled a wider debate in tennis: are tournaments making enough to protect their players, especially when it comes to mental health? The 2021 retreat of Naomi Osaka from French Open and Simone Biles’ decision to take a step back to the Tokyo Olympics has highlighted how mental well -being has become a central problem in modern sports.

The case of Sinner, whether exaggerated or not – can become another turning point how fans, officials and media deal with athletes under pressure.

While the Cincinnati open towards its conclusion, the storm around the sinner shows no signs of fading. Some fans have even suggested the boycott of the tournament next year unless the organizers have made visible steps to support the players.

For now, one thing is certain: Adriano Panatta has thrown gasoline into an already infuriated fire, transforming what could have been only another controversy on the tournament into a full -blown crisis.

If his sinner defense eventually help or damage the Italian star remains unclear. But in a fiery press conference, Panatta assured that the tennis world would not forget its message:

“It is not guilty, it is the number 1 in the world. I treat it with the respect it deserves.”