Jannik Sinner, the overwhelming favorite for the French Open title and on a 30-match winning streak, suffered a stunning second-round exit on Thursday at Roland Garros, falling to world number 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo after experiencing a dramatic physical downturn mid-match. Despite the unseasonably hot Parisian weather, Sinner stated he “could not find any energy” and attributed the loss to his own physical limitations rather than the conditions.
Unforeseen Collapse on Court
Sinner, who had dominated the men’s tour in recent months, appeared in commanding form against Cerundolo, leading two sets to love and holding a significant advantage in the third. However, his performance dramatically deteriorated from a 5-1 lead in the third set, losing 24 of the next 27 points. He began to labor around the court, experiencing dizziness and feeling nauseous, prompting him to call for a trainer and take a mid-match medical timeout.
The Italian star left the court at the end of the third and fourth sets, but was unable to recover his earlier form. He ultimately fell to Cerundolo with a final score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, marking one of the biggest upsets at the French Open in recent memory.
Sinner Downplays Heat as Factor
While several players have cited the high temperatures in Paris, peaking around 34C, as a reason for physical struggles, Sinner was quick to dismiss this as the primary cause. “I had no energy today. That can happen. Nobody is a robot,” Sinner stated in his post-match press conference.
He revealed he woke up feeling unwell and attempted to shorten points from the outset. “In the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just hit a wall,” he explained. Sinner acknowledged the warmth but maintained it was not an extreme factor, calling it “quite OK to play.”
A Pattern in Five-Setters?
This defeat marks the first time since the 2023 French Open that Sinner has not reached the second week of a Grand Slam. It also raises questions about his consistency in five-set matches. Despite the illness, his performance clearly declined, with 43 of his 64 unforced errors occurring in the final three sets.
His first-serve percentage dropped significantly to 47% in the fourth set, and he won a mere 18 points across the fourth and fifth sets. This loss was his 12th defeat in 18 matches that went to a deciding set. Notably, this follows other recent five-set struggles, including the 2023 French Open final and a semi-final loss at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Criticism of Sinner’s Packed Schedule
Sinner arrived in Paris in formidable form, having won five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events and 17 matches in a row on clay between April and May, securing titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. His dominance led to him becoming only the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to achieve the career ‘Golden Masters’.
However, his demanding schedule, which included lengthy runs on hard courts in Indian Wells and Miami in March, has come under scrutiny. Former British number one Tim Henman suggested Sinner might have benefited from skipping either the Madrid or Rome tournaments to conserve energy. Sinner acknowledged the difficulty of hindsight but defended his choices, emphasizing his desire to compete and the incredible results he achieved.
Looking Ahead: Recovery and Future Plans
Following his unexpected early exit, Sinner indicated that he will not play again before commencing his Wimbledon title defense on June 28. His immediate focus will be on complete physical and mental recovery. This French Open result serves as a stark reminder that even the most dominant athletes can face unforeseen physical challenges, leaving fans and experts to watch how Sinner rebuilds his momentum for the grass-court season.
Leave a Reply