Jannik Sinner, the top-seeded player and a strong contender for the French Open title, faced a shocking upset in the second round of the tournament. After leading 5-1 in the pivotal third set against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, ranked 56th in the world, Sinner ultimately succumbed to a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 defeat, unable to capitalize on an opportunity to serve for the match.
Sinner entered the tournament on an impressive 30-match winning streak that dated back to February, making him a favorite to complete a career Grand Slam by winning the one major title that had eluded him. However, with reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to a right wrist injury, expectations rose even further for Sinner’s success in Paris.
The match took a dramatic turn when Sinner, seemingly poised to close out the contest, lost a staggering 18 consecutive points while serving for the match at 5-4. The 21-year-old then experienced physical distress, bending over on the court before receiving medical attention, during which he reported feeling unwell. After a brief hiatus to assess his condition, he returned to compete but struggled, losing several subsequent games and eventually the set.
As the match progressed, Sinner’s performance deteriorated noticeably as he appeared exhausted, frequently bending over in apparent fatigue. He attempted to shorten points with drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics, but to no avail. “I woke up this morning and didn’t feel very well,” Sinner remarked. “I tried to keep the points very short but then I just kind of hit the wall. I don’t remember the last time I felt this weak.”
Remarkably, he lost 18 of the last 20 games, marking this defeat as the first instance since Andre Agassi in 2000 that a men’s No. 1 seed exited the French Open in the second round or earlier. “I feel sorry for him because he deserved to win a lot of matches,” Cerundolo stated during his post-match interview, acknowledging Sinner’s potential and performance leading up to the encounter.
The temperature at Roland Garros started at a warm 84 degrees Fahrenheit and escalated to 90 during the match. Sinner noted, “It was warm but not crazy warm. For me, it was just me today; it happens.”
Reflecting on his physical struggle, Sinner indicated that he contemplated retirement during the match but acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the competition. He now shifts his focus to Wimbledon, scheduled to begin on June 29, hoping for better physical readiness as he begins recovery. “To be ready there, we need to recuperate well and do things right now,” he stated.
In other tournament highlights, 17-year-old Moise Kouame made history by becoming the youngest man to reach the third round of a Grand Slam since Rafael Nadal in 2003, winning against Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a five-set thriller. Additionally, Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced as the highest-seeded player remaining in the top half of the draw, while notable upsets included fifth-seeded Ben Shelton’s loss to Raphael Collignon and Frances Tiafoe’s near five-hour victory over Hubert Hurkacz.
As Sinner reflects on this unexpected exit, the tennis landscape has shifted, leaving Novak Djokovic as the only remaining men’s player in the tournament with a Grand Slam title to his name, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling next phase of the French Open.
