💔 TEARS IN THE HISTORY OF TENNIS: Jannik Sinner dissolves in an emotional confession: “I can’t take it anymore, forgive me”. After his shocking defeat against Jakub Mensik, the Italian world number one failed to control his emotions on court and later shared a heartbreaking truth that he had kept hidden for a long time. That confession shocked millions of fans, sparking a wave of support across the tennis world. Read the full story below to understand what Jannik went through before and after that fateful moment. 😢👇

Milan, 19 February 2026 – The world of tennis stopped for a few minutes when Jannik Sinner, the ATP number 1, dropped his racket in the center of the court after losing in three sets against Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of an indoor ATP 500. It wasn’t just a defeat: it was a public emotional collapse, the first in the career of the South Tyrolean champion who until then had been synonymous with icy coldness and absolute control.

The final score – 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 for Mensik – doesn’t tell the whole story. What shook social networks and fan chats was the moment in which Sinner, after missing the decisive forehand on match point, collapsed on his knees, covered his face with his hands and started sobbing. An image that no one expected from the boy who had won three Slams in the last 18 months, dominated the ATP rankings for almost an entire year and seemed immune to pressure.

A few minutes later, in the press room, came the confession that changed everything.

“I’m sorry… I can’t take it anymore,” he began with a broken voice. «Forgive me if I disappointed you. It’s not just this match. That’s all that’s happened in the last few months. I can’t hide it anymore.”

The next words left the room in dead silence.

«Since I reached number 1, I haven’t had a full night’s sleep. Every morning I wake up terrified of losing everything. It’s not the fear of losing a game… it’s the fear of losing myself. I started taking sleeping pills in November, then anti-stress, then light anxiolytics. I thought I could handle everything on my own. I didn’t want to tell anyone because I was afraid that they would see me as weak, that they would say “well, number 1 has collapsed”. But today… today I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Sinner then revealed that he had suffered from episodes of acute panic already during the Turin 2025 Finals, when he won the title but he admitted in private that he had vomited before two matches due to anxiety. After the 2026 Australian Open, won in dominant fashion, the weight became unbearable: «Every victory made me feel more alone. Everyone expected me to continue winning everything. I couldn’t miss a shot without the world saying “it’s over.” I started to hate the phone, the messages, the notifications. I felt like a product, not a person.”

The confession didn’t stop there. Jannik spoke openly about how his private life was sacrificed: «I haven’t been in a relationship for two years. Every time I tried to get close to someone, I ended up calling it off because I was afraid of disappointing them or being used. My true friends can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and even with them I feel guilty if I don’t respond immediately. I live with the constant feeling that if I slow down, everything will collapse.”

The most painful story came when he spoke about his family: «My mother cries every time she sees me leave for a tournament. He knows I’m not well, but he doesn’t dare tell me because he’s afraid of making me feel even more guilty. My father sends me a message before every match: “Play calmly”. I haven’t been able to be calm for months.”

After these words, the press room remained silent for almost 30 seconds. Then the applause broke out – not of courtesy, but of profound respect. Many journalists had tears in their eyes.

The reaction from the tennis world was immediate and unanimous.

Novak Djokovic posted a photo on Instagram of him and Jannik hugging at Wimbledon 2025 with the caption: “Come on brother. You’re not alone. Never.” Carlos Alcaraz wrote: “Jannik, you are the strongest of all of us… even when you think you aren’t.” Rafael Nadal released a statement: “What Jannik did today requires more courage than any Slam title. Tennis needs real people, not machines.”

Even outside the circuit the wave of support was overwhelming. On TikTok and Instagram, thousands of videos with the hashtag #ForzaJannik have exceeded 400 million views in less than 48 hours. Many boys and girls shared their stories of burnout, performance anxiety, work or school pressure, using Sinner as an example: “If even the number 1 in the world can collapse, then I can admit it too.”

The Italian Tennis Federation announced the following day that Jannik would indefinitely suspend the season for “personal and mental health reasons”. His staff have confirmed that he will work with a sports psychologist and a team of specialists for a period of at least three months. It is not excluded that he will skip the entire season on clay and possibly return to grass or directly to American hard courts.

Jakub Mensik, the 20-year-old Czech who beat him, posted a touching message: “I don’t feel like I won today. I just played against a giant who is fighting a battle bigger than any match. Infinite respect, Jannik. Come back stronger.”

The defeat against Mensik, seen in retrospect, appears almost symbolic: a young rampant who beats the “king” tired, but without joy, because the king chose to show his humanity.

Today, at 24 years old, Jannik Sinner is no longer just the world number 1. He has become the symbol of a generation that rejects the image of the invincible champion and embraces vulnerability. His tears did not mark the end of a career, but perhaps the beginning of something bigger: a more humane tennis.

And while the circuit continues without him, a phrase circulates everywhere in fan groups, in comments, in Instagram stories:

“Thank you Jannik. For reminding us that even number 1s can cry… and that that’s okay.”