World number one Jannik Sinner suffered one of the most dramatic defeats of his career after collapsing physically in the blazing Paris heat and crashing out of the French Open in the second round on Thursday.The Italian star, widely viewed as the overwhelming favourite for the title after the withdrawal of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, squandered a two-set lead before losing 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6 to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a stunning turnaround on Court Philippe Chatrier.Sinner’s shocking exit blew the men’s draw wide open and ended his remarkable 30-match winning streak stretching back to February.Heat nightmare derails Sinner’s dominanceThe 24-year-old looked in complete control for over two hours and was just one game away from victory while serving at 5-4 in the third set. But the match suddenly turned when Sinner appeared physically drained under the brutal Paris conditions.With temperatures rising to 32 degrees Celsius, Sinner repeatedly bent over in exhaustion and struggled to move freely around the court. He asked the chair umpire for assistance after feeling dizzy and nauseous before leaving the court for medical treatment.The Italian returned wearing the same sweat-soaked light blue outfit, with ice packs around his neck and minerals added to his drinks, but the damage had already been done.From leading comfortably, Sinner astonishingly lost 18 consecutive points as Cerundolo sensed a historic opportunity.
Jannik Sinner of Italy cools himself with the ice. (AP Photo)
Cerundolo scripts career-defining upsetWhile Sinner faded physically, Cerundolo grew stronger with every passing game. The world number 56 relentlessly extended rallies and forced the exhausted top seed into desperate drop shots and risky serve-and-volley tactics.After winning the third set, the Argentine completely dominated the final two sets as Sinner struggled to even chase routine balls. The Italian repeatedly doubled over between points while Cerundolo played fearless attacking tennis.The victory marked the biggest win of Cerundolo’s career and sent him into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina returns to Jannik Sinner of Italy during their second round men’s singles match. (AP Photo)
Sinner’s defeat is his earliest exit at a major tournament since the 2023 French Open and raises fresh concerns about his struggles in extreme heat conditions. Earlier this year, he also battled physically during a difficult Australian Open match against Eliot Spizzirri.The Italian had arrived in Paris after winning titles in Rome, Madrid, Monte Carlo, Miami and Indian Wells, and many believed this was finally his year to complete a career Grand Slam.Instead, his French Open dream ended in collapse under the scorching Paris sun.
