Summary:
Jannik Sinner’s quest for a career Grand Slam ended unexpectedly in the second round of the French Open against World No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo, with a score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. Despite being on a 30-game winning streak and leading 6-3, 6-2, 5-2 at one point, Sinner’s conditioning faltered in the intense heat of Paris, which approached 90 degrees. His prior struggles with heat-related issues had foreshadowed this setback.
During the match, Sinner required medical attention for cramps and dizziness, significantly impacting his performance. Although he showed some initial resilience, Cerundolo capitalized on Sinner’s decline, demonstrating strong defensive play and steadily taking control of the match. Sinner’s loss marked a significant upset in a tournament that now appears even more open, especially with Carlos Alcaraz absent.
Cerundolo is set to face either Spain’s Martin Landarucce or Czech Republic’s Vit Koprzyba in the third round, while Sinner will need to address his conditioning challenges as he looks to avoid similar failures in future tournaments.
