It was supposed to be Jannik Sinner's Roland Garros. The stage was set, his rivals were faltering, and his form was red-hot. Instead, Court Philippe Chatrier witnessed one of the most stunning collapses in recent Grand Slam memory, as an initially outmatched Juan Manuel Cerundolo pulled off an improbable upset.
Key Points:
- Jannik Sinner, the top seed, crashed out of Roland Garros in the second round.
- He astonishingly lost from a two-sets-to-love lead and a 5-1 advantage in the third set.
- Sinner attributed his sudden decline to dizziness and an overall lack of energy, downplaying the heat's sole impact.
- Argentine qualifier Juan Manuel Cerundolo achieved a career-defining 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Commentators had declared the match all but over. Sinner was cruising, up 6-3, 6-2, 4-1, exuding confidence. His opponent, Cerundolo, appeared resigned to his fate, pleading with his player box.
Then, a seemingly innocuous pause changed everything. Sinner clutched his leg, spoke to his team, and a ripple of concern spread through the stadium. The aura of invincibility vanished.
A Champion's Unraveling: The Unthinkable Collapse
The transformation was breathtakingly swift. Serving for the match at 5-2 in the third, Sinner's serve deserted him, leading to a break at love. Again, at 5-4, the Italian’s game crumbled, starting with a double fault and ending with another love break. He astonishingly dropped 15 straight points, a stark signal of his distress.
What initially seemed like a routine win for Sinner, who had been the clear favorite for the Roland Garros title, turned into a nightmarish freefall. The man who had swept the clay season suddenly couldn't find his footing, despite efforts to cool himself down between changeovers.
From Dominance to Doubt: The Turning Point
Sinner later confessed to feeling unwell even before the match.
