French Open: The Collapse of the Favorite – How Jannik Sinner’s Shocking Exit Changed Everything
PARIS — The French Open was supposed to be Jannik Sinner’s moment. With three Grand Slam titles already in his trophy case and the world No. 1 ranking secured, the Italian was the heavy favorite to finally claim Roland Garros, the last major missing from his collection. Instead, what unfolded Thursday on the red clay of Stade Roland Garros was one of the most dramatic collapses in tennis history.
In a match that began as a dominant display of power and precision, Sinner led Juan Manuel Cerúndolo by two sets and was serving for the match at 5-1 in the third set. By the final point, the world No. 1 had vanished. The Argentinian, ranked No. 56 and unseeded, completed one of the greatest upsets in Grand Slam history with a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 victory, leaving Sinner stunned, exhausted, and questioning everything.
From Dominance to Disaster: The Turning Points
The match’s trajectory was as stark as it was sudden. Sinner, playing in his hometown of Paris, opened with two sets of flawless tennis, using his signature aggressive baseline game to overwhelm Cerúndolo. The Argentinian, known for his resilience but rarely his firepower, was pushed to the limit in the opening frames. At 2-0 down in sets, it seemed a formality.
But then came the unraveling. As temperatures in Paris hovered near 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°C), Sinner began struggling with cramping in his legs and arms. He later admitted to feeling “very dizzy” and “low on energy,” symptoms that worsened as the match progressed. Despite using bags of ice and a fan to cool down, his body betrayed him.
Key Statistic: Sinner lost 18 of the last 20 games in the match, including 15 of the final 16. Cerúndolo, who had never reached the third round of a Grand Slam before this tournament, capitalized on the Italian’s collapse with relentless net play and clutch serves.
Heat or Hype? The Debate Over Sinner’s Struggles
Sinner has long been criticized for his perceived vulnerability to heat and high-pressure situations. His struggles at the 2023 US Open, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in a fifth-set tiebreak, fueled speculation about his mental and physical resilience. This year’s French Open exit only deepens those questions.
“I feel like it was quite OK to play,” Sinner said after the match, dismissing the heat as the primary factor. “Really it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens.” Yet, the timing of his collapse—after leading 5-1 in the third set—suggests a deeper issue than mere environmental discomfort.
Cerúndolo, who has faced Sinner only once before (a straight-sets loss in 2023), played with a newfound confidence. “I think I was a little bit lucky,” he said humbly. “I feel sorry for him. He’s a great player, and he deserved to win today.”
Roland Garros Wide Open: What In other words for the Tournament
With both Sinner and Alcaraz (who withdrew due to a wrist injury) out of the draw, the French Open has been thrown into chaos. The remaining favorites—Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Daniil Medvedev—now face a wide-open path to the title. Ruud, who reached the second round, called the conditions “brutal,” saying the heat made him feel like a “zombie.”
Updated Standings Impact:
- Sinner remains world No. 1 but drops to 12 points behind Alcaraz in the ATP rankings.
- Cerúndolo jumps from No. 56 to No. 30, the biggest ranking surge of the year.
- Roland Garros is now a true open tournament with no clear favorite beyond the quarterfinals.
The Broader Context: Sinner’s Career and the Search for Answers
At 24, Sinner has already achieved more than most players dream of: four Grand Slam titles (Australian Open x2, Wimbledon, US Open), two ATP Finals crowns, and back-to-back Davis Cup victories with Italy. Yet, his French Open struggles—now three second-round exits in four attempts—cast a shadow over his legacy.
His coach, Simone Vagnozzi, has previously emphasized adaptation to different surfaces and conditions as a key focus. “Jannik is a complete player, but clay is a different beast,” Vagnozzi told reporters in 2025. “He needs to find that extra gear when the pressure mounts.” Thursday’s collapse suggests that gear may still be missing.
What’s Next for Sinner and the French Open?
Sinner’s next tournament is the Queen’s Club Championships in London (June 16–23), where the grass courts will test a different set of skills. Meanwhile, the French Open continues with the quarterfinals beginning Sunday, June 1. Fans can follow updates via the official Roland Garros website or the ATP Tour’s live scoring.
Key Takeaways
- Shocking Upset: Cerúndolo’s victory marks the first time an unseeded player has defeated Sinner in a Grand Slam match.
- Heat Factor: While Sinner downplayed the heat, the conditions contributed to his physical breakdown.
- Tournament Impact: The French Open is now wide open, with no clear favorite beyond the quarterfinals.
- Career Questions: Sinner’s French Open struggles raise questions about his ability to handle pressure on clay.
- Next Challenge: Sinner’s grass-court season begins at Queen’s Club, where he’ll need to regroup.
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