Sensation at Roland Garros: Sinner loses after squandering a two-set lead
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner suffered a shocking defeat to Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in the second round of the French Open. The Italian led 6:3, 6:2 but lost in five sets, ending his 30-match winning streak.
Sensation at Roland Garros: Sinner loses after squandering a two-set lead
Main Event
The 2026 French Open — Roland Garros — was rocked by a sensation already dubbed the biggest shock of the season. World No. 1, 24-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, considered the overwhelming favorite, was eliminated in the second round, losing to Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, ranked 56th in the ATP rankings.
The match, played on May 28 on the Philippe-Chatrier Court in Paris, ended 3:6, 2:6, 7:5, 6:1, 6:1 in favor of the Argentine. However, the drama of this defeat lies not only in the final result but also in how Sinner let slip what seemed a guaranteed victory.
Details and Statistics
The first hour of the match gave no hint of an upset. Sinner played tennis of the highest level, confirming his status as world No. 1. He took the first set in 36 minutes, 6:3, and the second even more convincingly, 6:2. In the third set, the Italian continued to dominate and led 5:1, just two games away from advancing to the third round.
It was at that moment that the incredible happened: Sinner's physical condition suddenly deteriorated. The Italian began clutching his stomach, his movements slowed, and his shots lost their power. At 5:4 in the third set, with Sinner serving for the match (and trailing 0:40), he was forced to take a medical timeout and leave the court. Upon his return, he looked confused, complaining of dizziness and nausea.
This turning point completely changed the match. Cerúndolo, taking advantage of his opponent's physical issues, won five games in a row, taking the third set 7:5. In the fourth and fifth sets, the Argentine left the Italian no chance — 6:1 and 6:1.
The match statistics are shocking: after leading 5:1 in the third set, Sinner won only two of the next twenty points. Cerúndolo converted 8 of 14 break points, while Sinner converted only 5 of 16. The total match duration was 3 hours 36 minutes, but the actual contest lasted only two sets.
Context and Significance
This defeat ended Sinner's phenomenal 30-match winning streak, which had lasted since February 2026. During that time, the Italian won all three prestigious clay-court Masters series tournaments — in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. Moreover, his streak of 30 Masters wins was the second-longest in history, behind Novak Djokovic's record of 31.
For Sinner himself, this early exit was particularly painful for two reasons. First, Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam tournament he has yet to win. In 2025, he was three points away from victory but lost to Carlos Alcaraz. Second, this year, with Alcaraz absent due to injury, the Italian was the main contender for the long-awaited trophy.
Cerúndolo's victory also made history: he became the first player since 2000 to eliminate the world No. 1 at Roland Garros before the third round. For the 24-year-old Argentine, this is the best Grand Slam result of his career — he had previously lost in the second round three times. "I feel sorry for him. He deserved to win, and then... I don't know what happened. Maybe cramps, maybe pressure. But I hope he recovers," Cerúndolo commented on his win.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
With Sinner out, the favorite for the men's draw at Roland Garros 2026 becomes 39-year-old Serbian Novak Djokovic, who continues his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title — a record no tennis player has ever achieved. In the third round, Cerúndolo will face the winner of the match between Martín Landaluce (Spain) and Vít Kopřiva (Czech Republic).
Experts also note that along with Sinner, four other top-10 players have already been eliminated in Paris: Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev, Taylor Fritz, and Alexander Bublik. This makes the remaining men's draw one of the most unpredictable in recent years.
As for Sinner himself, the main question now is his physical condition. Problems with thermoregulation and a tendency to cramp in hot weather have plagued the Italian before: similar incidents occurred in Cincinnati, Shanghai, Melbourne, and even in Rome just two weeks ago. Temperatures in Paris these days exceed 30°C, and the heat dome covering Europe proved decisive.
— Editorial Team
