Ruthless Jannik Sinner can be exposed at the French Open. Here's how

French Open 2026: Frances Tiafoe believes Jannik Sinner is beatable at the Roland Garros if rivals can unsettle him mentally, despite the Italian being the overwhelming favourite in Carlos Alcaraz's absence.

In Short

• Frances Tiafoe said players must believe Sinner can be beaten on clay
• He argued rivals should unsettle Sinner mentally and drag him off rhythm
• Sinner enters Roland Garros after winning 6 consecutive Masters titles

Jannik Sinner is in the form of his life without a doubt. In Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, he is being viewed as the top favourite to win the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win in his career. But is the World No.1 beatable? Frances Tiafoe certainly believes so.

Tiafoe, who has beaten Sinner once in six meetings, described him as a stupendous player but refused to place him on a pedestal. The American also explained how players can get the better of the Italian star at Roland Garros.

The World No. 22 believes that if Sinner can be unsettled mentally and taken out of his comfort zone, he can be beaten. Tiafoe added that the top players are more than capable of overcoming Sinner, who is aiming to complete the Career Grand Slam.

“Yeah, I mean, he’s a hell of a player. I’m not going to sit here and continue to put him on a pedestal. He’s a hell of a player, and obviously, he’s doing monumental things. But I think we’ve got to believe that you can do the ultimate task and beat him. Everyone’s capable, especially the top guys. Guys are capable,” Tiafoe told the reporters.

“I think the biggest thing is to kind of get him out of his high horse mentally. I think we’re all kind of putting him on a different stratosphere, which he is, but you have got to kind of create a little bit of illusion to get you good, to get you to get over the line,” Tiafoe added.

JANNIK SINNER MARCHING ALONG

Sinner has been in incredible form, winning six consecutive Masters 1000 titles. Recently, he became the youngest player to complete the Career Golden Masters after clinching the Italian Open title at home. He also holds the record for the most consecutive wins in Masters events (34), surpassing Novak Djokovic’s mark of 31 set in 2011.

In the opening round of the French Open, Sinner will face World No. 171 Clement Tabur. After winning Wimbledon Championships last year, Sinner fell short in the US Open final before Djokovic knocked him out in the semifinals of the Australian Open. Last year, he narrowly missed out on the French Open title, but given his current form, there is every chance of him lifting the trophy this time around.

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