Italy’s Jannik Sinner suffered a stunning second-round exit at the French Open after Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo fought back from two sets down to claim a dramatic five-set victory at Roland Garros in Paris.
The world No. 1 appeared to be cruising into the next round after dominating the opening two sets, but the momentum shifted completely as Sinner began struggling physically in the sweltering conditions.
Cerúndolo capitalised on the Italian’s difficulties to complete an incredible comeback, winning 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 and sealing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
Sinner had looked untouchable early in the contest, producing the aggressive shot-making that had carried him through a remarkable 30-match winning streak heading into the clay-court Grand Slam.
The four-time major champion raced through the opening sets and later moved 5-1 ahead in the third, putting himself on the brink of another routine victory.
However, the match changed dramatically while Sinner was serving for the contest. Trailing 0-40 in the game, the Italian held a lengthy discussion with the umpire before leaving the court for medical treatment.
When he returned, he struggled to regain his earlier intensity.
“I struggled and started to feel very dizzy, very low on energy. I tried to serve it out but didn’t have a lot of energy,” Sinner told reporters afterwards.
“The middle of the third set (is when I started having problems), even though I was playing some great tennis, but I really couldn’t find any energy today.
“It was a tough spot to be in. But, again, this is the sport. It was warm but not crazy warm. I feel like it was quite OK to play. Really, it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens.”
Cerúndolo seized the opportunity, reeling off the final six games of the third set before dominating the last two sets to complete the remarkable turnaround.
“In the fourth set, I let it go a little bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth. The first one was a very important game and I couldn’t hold. Then it went a bit downwards,” Sinner said.
“I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short. Also in the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall, and that’s it.”
The defeat ended Sinner’s impressive unbeaten run, which included Masters titles in Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome, and also marked another painful collapse for the top seed.
According to ESPN Insights, Sinner is now the first men’s top seed in the Open Era to lose more than one Grand Slam match after leading by two sets.
Cerúndolo admitted after the match that fortune may have played a role in his victory.
“Of course, it’s tough for him, he was leading the match, I couldn’t win more than three games by set, so I think I was a little bit lucky,” Cerúndolo said on court.
“I feel sorry for him because he deserved to win a lot of matches and, of course, he was serving to win this match.
“But then I don’t know what happened, I think he was cramping maybe or maybe the pressure, I don’t know, but of course, I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers.”
The Argentine added: “I’m super happy, I tried to play my best, I’m going to keep trying to play my best.
“Of course, it’s a tournament I really like to play because the clay is my best surface, so I hope to be ready for the next match.”
Cerúndolo will next face either Spain’s Martín Landaluce or the Czech Republic’s Vít Kopřiva as the men’s draw at Roland Garros opens up following Sinner’s shock departure.
