Too hot to handle? Jannik Sinner cramps and crashes out in major French Open upset

Out and out favourite to win the French Open, Jannik Sinner’s campaign ended in dramatic fashion on Thursday, May 28, after the World No.1 lost in five sets to unseeded Juan Manuel Cerundolo in Paris. Battling the relentless heat on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Sinner struggled physically despite appearing firmly in control of the contest early on.

French Open players have been battling intense heatwaves in recent editions of the tournament. The 2026 edition made it mandatory for top players to play at least one match in the day session, citing fairness in competition.

Playing his first afternoon match of the tournament, Sinner was unable to cope with the heat on Wednesday. It was surprising to see Sinner - who had played out a gladiatorial battle with Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final - struggling physically in majors this year. Even at the Australian Open earlier this year, he took a controversial medical timeout in his pre-quarterfinal against Holger Rune, which helped him wriggle out of a tough situation.

History did not repeat on Thursday, as the Italian lost against the 56th ranked Argentine 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6 in a match that lasted 3 hours and 36 minutes.

SINNER STRUGGLES TO MOVE AFTER MEDICAL BREAK

Playing the opening match on Centre Court on Thursday, May 28, Sinner complained of dizziness and dehydration late in the third set while leading 5-1 and standing inches away from victory. The World No.1 took a medical timeout, but never looked the same after returning to the court. Following the medical break, Sinner struggled to move freely and ended up conceding three successive sets, eventually crashing out in the second round.

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The Italian had earlier looked set for a comfortable passage into the third round after dominating the opening two sets with his trademark power and precision from the baseline. Sinner repeatedly pinned Cerundolo deep behind the court and dictated rallies with ease, surging into a commanding position in the match.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the third set. Serving at 5-1, Sinner began showing visible signs of discomfort in the Paris heat. The Italian repeatedly clutched his inner thigh and struggled with movement during longer rallies. After dropping serve despite holding comfortably throughout the match until then, Sinner’s physical condition visibly deteriorated.

Trailing 0-40 in another service game while attempting to close out the match, Sinner called for a medical timeout and briefly left the court after consulting the chair umpire and physio. He returned looking far from comfortable and was unable to regain control of the contest.

CERUNDOLO POUNCES ON HIS CHANCE

Young Cerundolo sensed the opportunity immediately. The Argentine raised his intensity from the baseline and used his exceptional court coverage to stretch Sinner into difficult positions. With Sinner struggling to move freely, Cerundolo repeatedly targeted the corners of the court with delicate drop shots, further draining the Italian physically during the closing stages of the match. At one point, Sinner appeared so restricted in movement that he simply stopped chasing certain balls, conceding points at a rapid pace.

Down 1-5, the Argentine clawed his way back to win the third set 7-5 before completely taking over the match in the fourth, winning it 6-1. Sinner, meanwhile, switched tactics in a desperate attempt to stay alive in the contest. With his movement compromised, the Italian began going for high-risk winners and hitting through the ball with greater force, hoping to force errors from Cerundolo. The Argentine, however, remained composed under pressure and closed out the match without allowing any further momentum swings.

The defeat marked one of the most dramatic collapses of Sinner’s career and raised fresh concerns about player welfare at the French Open amid the punishing Paris heat. For Cerundolo, however, it was a breakthrough moment on the biggest stage, as the Argentine held his nerve against the World No.1 and produced one of the finest wins of his career to move into the third round in Paris.

With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament and Jannik Sinner crashing out, Novak Djokovic is now the favourite to win and secure the long-awaited record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. This is the first time both the World No. 1 and 2 will not be in the Men's Singles third round at Roland Garros since 2000.