World No 1 Jannik Sinner suffered a shocking defeat at the French Open on Thursday, losing to qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo in five sets after holding a commanding lead. The match, played in sweltering conditions with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, saw Sinner dominate the first two sets and appear on the verge of a routine victory.
The Collapse
Sinner was leading 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 and serving for the match when he suddenly began to struggle physically. He took a medical timeout, reporting feelings of sickness and dizziness, and upon returning to the court, his movement, timing, and power were significantly impaired. Cerundolo, ranked outside the top 100, capitalised on Sinner's distress, winning five consecutive games to take the third set 7-5.
The Argentine continued his resurgence in the fourth set, breaking Sinner early and cruising to a 6-1 victory. The final set followed a similar pattern, with Cerundolo breaking Sinner twice more to seal an astonishing comeback with a final score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
Impact on the Tournament
This defeat ends Sinner's impressive 30-match winning streak, which had included titles at the Australian Open and several Masters events. His early exit leaves the French Open wide open, especially with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury. Other top contenders, including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, will now be seen as favourites to claim the title.
Sinner's collapse is reminiscent of similar heat-related issues that have plagued players at Roland Garros in recent years. The tournament has faced criticism for not scheduling matches earlier in the day or providing more shade on outer courts. Sinner's team declined to comment on whether the heat policy should be reviewed.
Despite the disappointment, Sinner remains the world No 1 and will look to regroup ahead of the grass-court season. For Cerundolo, this victory represents the biggest win of his career and a remarkable turnaround after being on the brink of defeat.
