World No. 1 Jannik Sinner crashes out of heat-stricken Roland Garros in five-set upset

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner crashed out of Roland Garros in a dramatic five-set upset against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, ending his 30-match winning streak. Sinner dominated the first two sets, winning 6-3 and 6-2, and held a 5-1 lead in the third before collapsing due to cramps and exhaustion. He later admitted to feeling dizzy and low on energy, struggling to maintain his usual intensity as Cerúndolo rallied to win the final three sets 5-7, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1. The match unfolded under extreme conditions, with the ongoing heatwave at the French Open cited as a contributing factor to Sinner’s decline. Despite the Italian’s early dominance, Cerúndolo capitalized on his opponent’s sudden struggles, securing the victory in a match that defied expectations. Sinner, who was serving for the match at 5-1 in the third set, left the court briefly for medical treatment before returning with visibly reduced energy. Cerúndolo acknowledged the difficulty of his win, stating he felt lucky to advance after Sinner’s strong start. The Argentine admitted he did not expect to win more than three games in any set but credited his resilience in the face of Sinner’s early lead. Now, Cerúndolo will face either Martín Landaluce or Vít Kopřiva in the next round as he continues his campaign at Roland Garros. Sinner’s defeat marks the first time a top seed has lost more than one match at a Grand Slam while leading 2-0 in the Open Era, according to ESPN Insights. The Italian star, who had won three consecutive clay-court Masters titles leading up to the French Open, described his performance as a rare off-day, emphasizing that the heat was not the sole factor in his collapse. He expressed disappointment but accepted the unpredictability of professional tennis. With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined, Sinner was seen as a favorite to claim his first Roland Garros title. However, his early exit leaves the tournament wide open as other players step forward in his absence. The match serves as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in high-stakes tennis, even for the world’s top-ranked player.