Sinner’s French Open campaign ends in second-round shock defeat

World number one Jannik Sinner’s bid for a maiden French Open title and a career Grand Slam concluded abruptly on Thursday after he was defeated by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round. The four-time Grand Slam champion fell 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in a match defined by extreme heat and a significant physical decline during the third set.

Sinner arrived in Paris as the overwhelming favourite, having won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz ruled out by injury and Novak Djokovic described as searching for his best form, Sinner’s path appeared clear. However, Cerundolo, an unseeded Argentinian, overturned a two-set deficit to secure the upset on a hot Thursday at Roland Garros.

The temperature at the start of the match was recorded at 84 degrees Fahrenheit, approximately 29 degrees Celsius, rising to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, or 32 degrees Celsius, as play continued. Sinner dominated the opening two sets, leading 5-1 in the third while serving for the match at 5-4. He then began to struggle, halting play and requiring a medical timeout.

Medical staff attended to Sinner on court after he reported feeling sick. He was allowed off-court for an assessment where his blood pressure was taken. Upon his return five minutes later, Sinner was immediately broken for 5-5 and dropped the next two games to lose the set. He subsequently surrendered the fourth set and was broken early in the decider, losing 18 of the final 20 games.

The defeat marks the first time a men’s number one seed has exited the French Open in the second round or earlier since Andre Agassi in 2000. It also ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak since February. Pre-tournament odds had placed Sinner at -275, the second-shortest odds at a Grand Slam since at least 1990.