World No.1 and overwhelming favourite Jannik Sinner has crashed out of the French Open in one of the biggest boilovers in tennis history, beaten by Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo and the searing heat in Paris.
Just as in Australian Open in January, the blistering temperatures proved too much for the Italian mountain man and after serving for a straight-sets win at 5-4 in the third set, he turned into a stricken figure, his superman powers melting as he eventually capitulated 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 to the world No.56.
đ¨ Upset alert đ¨ @jmcerundolo stuns the World No.1, Sinner, to claim the biggest win of his career đŞ@rolandgarros | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/k6YcB9Ed0w
â ATP Tour (@atptour) May 28, 2026
It was a defeat that left the entire sports world stunned as Sinner had been the most dominant favourite to win any grand slam since Rafa Nadal in his pomp here at Roland Garros.
He had been unbeaten in 30 matches and there was no defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the field to threaten him, the Spaniard having been sidelined by a wrist injury.
It had always felt as if only a physical setback or a problem in the heat could sideline the man who'd carried an air of invulnerability, having lost just one match since February - to Jakub Mensik in Qatar - since his defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final.
Now, after nine successive grand slams won by Sinner and Alcaraz, the greatest slam duopoly in tennis annals has been ended, with the Italian's exit potentially opening the door for Novak Djokovic to win that record 25th major title.
There were echoes of when Sinner also struggled in even hotter conditions at the Australian Open in a match against against Eliot Spizzirri in January. On that occasion, the heat rules kicked in, the roof was closed and the match swung his way.
An incredible run comes to an end đ¤
â ATP Tour (@atptour) May 28, 2026
Wishing you a speedy recovery, @janniksin đ pic.twitter.com/BGoqxdgcVx
But there was no escape for Sinner this time on Thursday when at 5-4, 0-40 in the third set on Court Philippe Chatrier with the temperatures now in the early thirties, he bent over the court and walked slowly to his chair. He asked for assistance and left the court, his entire kit drenched with sweat.
When he finally returned with an ice pack around his neck, he lost the next point and, looking a poorly shadow of the man who had dominated the first two sets, lost the third 7-5, before leaving the court again.
On his return, the 24-year-old top seed never looked like completing his career grand slam with his first French Open title as he went down in three hours 36 minutes.
