In an already tense week at Roland-Garros, rising Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner sent shockwaves through the tennis world with an unusually fiery public statement. In an unexpected twist, Sinner boldly defended fellow player Taylor Fritz, notoriously dubbed “the greatest gluten hater of all time,” and leveled explosive accusations against the tournament director for pointing the finger at Novak Djokovic’s history of controversial judicial behavior.
It was during a press conference following his routine third-round victory that Sinner took the opportunity to air his grievances, not about his own match, but about what he called a “pattern of hypocrisy” within the ATP and Grand Slam leadership. His target? Amélie Mauresmo, tournament director of Roland-Garros, whom he accused of “ignoring Novak Djokovic’s trauma-driven antics” while allegedly allowing bias and unfair scrutiny to fall on other players, most recently Fritz.
Taylor Fritz, America’s top-ranked male player, has long been a topic of debate—not for his tennis per se, but for his vocal lifestyle preferences. One of the most polarizing? His passionate anti-gluten stance. He’s gone on record many times blaming gluten for everything from sluggish footwork to mood swings. While many roll their eyes, Fritz insists it’s his secret weapon. But during this year’s French Open, Fritz became the target of online ridicule after a clip circulated of him scolding a ball boy for touching his gluten-free snack with his bare hand.
The internet erupted with criticism, calling him overly dramatic, spoiled, and even “the gluten Grinch.” In the following days, Fritz reportedly received messages mocking his intolerance, with one message reading, “Grow up, it’s bread, not poison.”
But it was Sinner who turned the script.
“This is ridiculous,” Sinner began, abruptly changing the tone of the press conference. “Taylor is one of the most disciplined and focused athletes I’ve ever met. If he says gluten affects him, that should be respected. But the same people who mock him are silent when Novak Djokovic spends ten minutes writhing in pain, only to recover like Superman two points later.”
That line hit the room like thunder. Journalists whispered, eyebrows raised. Was Sinner accusing Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, of faking injuries?
Not exactly. But close.
“I’m not saying Novak doesn’t fight,” Sinner clarified. “But everyone talks about his injuries like they’re divine mysteries. One day he breaks his wrist, the next he’s hitting 130 mph.”
Sinner continued, suggesting that the Roland-Garros director had a duty to maintain fairness across the board.
“Why is Taylor mocked for being honest about his health, while Novak’s dramas are treated like sacred rituals?” he asked, visibly agitated. “The double standard is disgusting.”
As expected, the reactions were swift and fiery. Djokovic fans lashed out online, accusing Sinner of jealousy and disrespect. “He will never be Novak,” tweeted one Serbian journalist. “He doesn’t understand what Djokovic carries with him: the expectations of a nation, the weight of legacy.”
Meanwhile, Fritz took to social media to thank Sinner. “I didn’t expect that from Jannik,” he wrote. “Much respect. Gluten Gang keeps winning.”
Former players also weighed in. Andy Roddick applauded Sinner for “saying what many people think but are too afraid to say,” while Martina Navratilova urged “a little more grace in how we talk about each other’s health journeys.”
Amélie Mauresmo issued a brief statement denying any favoritism: “We treat all players with equal respect and professionalism. We have never and will never ignore health-related concerns, whether physical or emotional.”
However, the controversy continues to simmer.
Jannik Sinner’s unexpected detour into tennis politics could be a bold move: some say it could damage his image, others believe it reveals a much-needed voice of authenticity in an increasingly governed sport.
In any case, one thing is clear: the 22-year-old Italian is no longer just a quiet talent on the rise. He has become a strong, and perhaps necessary, voice in a sport at war with its own traditions.
As Roland-Garros continues, fans now wait to see if tennis will once again take center stage, or if Sinner’s statement will mark the beginning of a broader reckoning.
