In the absence of Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros, Jannik Sinner had a promising opportunity to secure his first French Open victory. However, the 24-year-old encountered a major upset in the second round on Thursday against the No. 56-ranked Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.
Sinner initially led the match by winning the first two sets but ultimately lost in a dramatic five-set contest, finishing 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. This result marked one of the most surprising outcomes in recent tennis history.
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The match took place in 84-degree heat, which seemed to affect Sinner’s performance, especially noticeable when he needed assistance for cramping during his serve in the third set. Despite holding a winning streak of 30 matches dating back to February, Sinner lost control, dropping 18 of the next 20 games.
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The French Open was the last major title Sinner needed to complete a career Grand Slam. With No. 2-ranked Alcaraz out due to injury, expectations were high for Sinner to progress far in the tournament. At one stage, Sinner’s odds of winning were overwhelming, with live betting marking him as a favorite at -100000.
Cerúndolo now moves on to the third round, set to compete on Saturday against either Martín Landaluce or Vít Kopřiva.
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