Top-seeded Sinner ousted from French Open in historic second-round collapse

Jannik Sinner lost 18 consecutive points after leading two sets to love and 5-1 in the third, falling to Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.espn+1
Cerundolo became the lowest-ranked player to beat a world No. 1 at Roland-Garros since 1998, according to the tournament's website, snapping Sinner's 30-match winning streak.rolandgarros
"I woke up this morning not feeling well," Sinner told reporters, saying he "hit a wall" and felt dizzy as cramping and fatigue set in during the intense heat.bbc+1

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner suffered one of the most dramatic collapses in Grand Slam history on Thursday, squandering a two-set lead and a 5-1 advantage in the third set before falling to 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round of the French Open.espn+2

The defeat snapped Sinner's 30-match winning streak and made him the first men's top seed to exit before the third round at Roland-Garros in over 25 years.rolandgarros+1

A Historic Collapse

Sinner appeared on course for a routine victory, racing through the first two sets and building a commanding 5-1 lead in the third. Then, in sweltering 90-degree heat on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the Italian lost 18 consecutive points as Cerundolo clawed back into the match. From that point forward, the Argentine won 18 of the last 20 games to complete a stunning comeback.cbssports+2

According to the Roland-Garros website, Cerundolo became the lowest-ranked player to defeat a World No. 1 at the tournament since 1998, and the lowest-ranked player to beat a No. 1 from two sets down at a Grand Slam since 1973.rolandgarros

"I Am Not a Robot"

Sinner, who had entered as the overwhelming favorite to claim a maiden Roland-Garros title and complete a career Grand Slam, revealed after the match that he had been unwell before stepping on court.

"I had no energy today. That can happen. No one is a robot," Sinner said, according to the BBC. "I woke up this morning not feeling well and tried to keep the points short. At first, I was striking the ball cleanly, but then I hit a wall. I started to feel dizzy and was very low on energy."bbc

He requested a medical timeout during the match and left the court after the third and fourth sets but was unable to recover. Reuters reported that Sinner struggled with illness and fatigue throughout the contest.bbc+2

Wide-Open Draw

The loss reshapes the men's draw at Roland-Garros. Sinner's exit leaves Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic as the leading contenders for the title. Cerundolo, meanwhile, advances to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.sports.yahoo+2

Sources (15)