Tennis | Roland Garros

Sinner was cruising at Roland Garros before collapsing in shocking defeat

The Italian collapsed physically and lost to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, who played a smart match to end the world No. 1’s 30-match winning streak.

MOHAMMED BADRA

Nacho Albarrán David Nelson

París Update: May 28th, 2026 11:35 EDT

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With a tour-leading 38 wins this season, including 19 on clay, and riding a 30-match winning streak dating back to his quarterfinal defeat at the ATP 500 in Doha against Jakub Mensik, Jannik Sinner looked destined to capture the one Grand Slam title missing from his résumé: Roland Garros.

What happened to tournament favorite Sinner?

Especially with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent, Sinner was widely seen as the overwhelming favorite. Experts analyzing the tournament said his only real opponents were himself... and the heat.

And in a twist few could have predicted, one of the hottest weeks in recent Roland Garros history, with temperatures reaching 91 degrees Fahrenheit, claimed the world No. 1 on Thursday in the second round, where he was beaten by Juan Manuel Cerúndolo: 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in 3 hours and 36 minutes.

The match had been scheduled for the opening slot on Court Philippe-Chatrier at noon, a decision that raised eyebrows among some observers, who viewed it as favorable treatment for the winner of the last six Masters 1000 tournaments.

Exhaustion hits Sinner

Sinner, who had circled Roland Garros on his calendar all year, cruised through the first two sets and led 5-1 in the third before heat exhaustion completely derailed him against Cerúndolo.

At 5-4, the red-haired Italian suddenly collapsed physically and received medical treatment on court with signs of dehydration, although he also complained about his hip. He briefly left for the locker room and returned looking completely drained.

Sinner was cruising at Roland Garros before collapsing in shocking defeat — Sinner receives treatmentALAIN JOCARD

Dizzy, vomiting, disoriented and out of energy, Sinner became an easy target for the 24-year-old Argentine, ranked No. 56 in the world and a true clay-court specialist.

Cerúndolo played intelligently, mixing in heavy looping shots, Nadal-style topspin forehands, drop shots and lobs. He stormed back to win the final three sets and secure the biggest victory of his career, earning a third-round matchup Saturday against either Czech player Vít Kopřiva or Spain’s Martín Landaluce.

What did Sinner’s opponent Cerúndolo say?

“Of course he wasn’t feeling well. He hadn’t lost more than three games in a set before that, so I was a little lucky,” Cerúndolo said afterward.

“He was serving for the match. I don’t know if it was pressure or cramps... it’s unfortunate for him. I’m super happy. I tried to play at my best level. I love playing this tournament because clay is my best surface, and now I’m ready for the next match.”

Cerúndolo is the younger brother of Francisco Cerúndolo, who is also in the draw and has beaten Sinner twice before. Now the brothers share another achievement.

Sinner’s ongoing problem with the heat

Heat and humidity have troubled Sinner before, but never with consequences this severe.

Last year at the Australian Open, in temperatures around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, he struggled badly against Holger Rune and was visibly shaking on court. A 17-minute delay to repair the net helped him recover and continue. He eventually won the title.

In Cincinnati, under similarly brutal conditions, Sinner retired during the final against Alcaraz, although that time stomach problems after a difficult night were also a factor.

The oppressive humidity in Shanghai forced him to retire against Tallon Griekspoor on Oct. 5, with temperatures around 86 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity reaching a staggering 90%.

Earlier this season in Melbourne, while facing Eliot Spizzirri in 100-degree heat, Sinner was cramping severely before the tournament’s extreme heat policy and the closing of the Rod Laver Arena roof allowed him to recover.

And just days ago, during his Rome semifinal against Daniil Medvedev, he again suffered dizziness, vomiting and cramps.

Who could win Roland Garros 2026 after Sinner was knocked out?

The consequences of Sinner’s elimination, only the second time in the last 20 years that a men’s No. 1 seed has lost in the second round of a Grand Slam after Rafael Nadal at the 2023 Australian Open, are now impossible to predict.

But contenders such as Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud, Novak Djokovic and even Rafa Jódar will surely feel a little more hopeful now that the man from San Candido is out of the tournament.