World number one Jannik Sinner has been eliminated from the French Open in a significant upset, retiring due to injury during his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The defeat marks the biggest surprise of the tournament thus far.
Sinner, who was considered a strong favourite for the men’s singles title, appeared to struggle physically as the match progressed. Despite holding a commanding two-set lead and being on the verge of victory at 5-1 in the third, a dramatic shift in momentum occurred. Sinner began to look laboured, losing three consecutive games and calling for the trainer. He was heard expressing feelings of dizziness and nausea before taking a mid-game medical timeout.
Upon returning to the court, Sinner was unable to regain his previous form. The match ultimately swung in favour of the unseeded Argentine, Cerundolo, who secured the victory with set scores of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. This exit is particularly disappointing for Sinner, who was aiming to complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros and was on a 30-match winning streak.
The conditions in Paris were described as sweltering, with temperatures exceeding 34C. Sinner has experienced difficulties in extreme heat previously, notably cramping at the Australian Open in temperatures close to 40C. His physical struggles resurfaced during the match, with his strokes reportedly slowing down and his movement becoming restricted.
Physical struggles emerge
After comfortably winning the opening two sets, Sinner’s physical issues became apparent as he approached the finish line. He was observed shaking his legs and struggling to generate power. While serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, Sinner doubled over and requested medical attention. He took an off-court timeout but appeared significantly diminished upon his return, taking lengthy breaks between sets and exhibiting discomfort.
Cerundolo, ranked world number 56, maintained his composure throughout the latter stages of the match. He secured the third and fourth sets with relative ease and established an early lead in the fifth. Despite encouragement from the crowd and his coaching team, Sinner could not overcome his physical limitations. The defeat marks Sinner’s first loss since February and his first on a clay court this season.
The unexpected exit of the top seed has opened up the men’s draw, potentially enhancing the chances for other contenders like Novak Djokovic. Cerundolo‘s reward for this significant victory is a third-round match against either Martin Landaluce or Vit Kopriva.
Other notable matches saw Coco Gauff progress, though not without facing challenges. Aryna Sabalenka also advanced, while Felix Auger-Aliassime was involved in a lengthy contest. Frances Tiafoe emerged victorious in a hard-fought fifth-set encounter.
