Tennis: Jannik Sinner's Shocking Defeat at Roland Garros Knocks Out Favorite
One of the biggest surprises of the opening week of the French Open was the defeat of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian, considered the tournament favorite, squandered a two-set lead and lost to an Argentine representative. This event dramatically reshaped the draw and opened up new opportunities for other title contenders.
Earthquake on Philippe-Chatrier: How Jannik Sinner Lost Roland Garros Due to Cramps and Vomiting
Paris, May 28, 2026. The Philippe-Chatrier center court witnessed one of the biggest upsets in the history of the French Open. World No. 1, 24-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner, who arrived in Paris with one goal—to complete the Career Grand Slam and claim the only trophy that has eluded him—sensationaly exited the tournament in the second round.
His conqueror was world No. 56, 24-year-old Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. But what shocks is not just the fact of the favorite's defeat, but the circumstances: Sinner led 2-0 in sets, had a 5-1 lead in the third set, and was four points away from victory. Then the Italian literally "broke down" in front of thousands of spectators. This match is already being called the most unexpected result of the 2026 tennis season, as well as one of the greatest comebacks in Roland Garros history.
Main Event
Up to a certain point, the match followed the most boring and predictable script for the world No. 1. Sinner played like a ruthless machine: powerful serve, incredible consistency from the baseline, and absolute concentration. The first two sets flew by unnoticed—6-3, 6-2 in favor of the Italian. It seemed that a quick and formal third set would follow, after which Sinner would head to the locker room to rest.
In the third set, Sinner continued to apply pressure. He made an early break and extended the lead to 5-1. He had two chances to serve for the match. The crowd was already preparing for the inevitable when the inexplicable happened. At 5-2 in the third set, during a rally, Sinner suddenly began to look stiff. He stopped chasing down "dead" balls and started breathing heavily.
The pause came at 5-4 in games, when Sinner was again serving for the match. The Italian took a medical timeout and even had to leave the court to consult with a doctor. It later emerged that the world No. 1 was suffering from severe dizziness and nausea. Sinner's physical condition deteriorated sharply due to the Parisian heat and stuffiness on the Philippe-Chatrier court.
Returning to the court, the Italian could not move properly. Cerúndolo was not a star, but he was healthy and full of energy. The Argentine seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Juan Manuel took the third set 7-5, and then simply destroyed his physically "dead" opponent in the fourth and fifth sets—6-1, 6-1.
Sinner lost 18 of the last 20 games of the match. The scene was heartbreaking for Italian fans: the world's best tennis player could not chase down simple drop shots, his legs were tangled, and his shots lost all power.
Details and Statistics
The numbers from this match go beyond ordinary sports statistics. They reflect the scale of the physical catastrophe that befell Sinner and the greatness of Cerúndolo's spirit.
Final score: 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in favor of the Argentine.
Before this defeat, Sinner was in a state of absolute dominance in men's tennis. He had won 30 consecutive matches. In this "golden" stretch of the season, he had conceded only three sets to opponents. Sinner started the year with five (!) titles at Masters 1000 events. Before Roland Garros, bookmakers were offering odds of 1.42 on the Italian's victory, considering his win almost a foregone conclusion.
The odds on Juan Manuel Cerúndolo's victory before the match were 20.0. But during the third set, when Sinner was leading by a huge margin, one could bet on the Argentine's victory at an incredible 100.0—meaning statistical models did not believe in such an outcome.
As for personal statistics:
- Jannik Sinner: His winner count dropped sharply after the second set. In the second half of the match, the Italian made critically many unforced errors (over 30 in the last two sets), which is completely uncharacteristic of his game.
- Juan Manuel Cerúndolo: The Argentine showed fantastic physical fitness, winning long rallies and forcing his opponent to move.
This match will go down in history as the first defeat of a reigning world No. 1 at Roland Garros at such an early stage (second round) since 2000.
Context and Significance
This defeat carries enormous historical weight for both sides. For Jannik Sinner, Roland Garros remains the only unconquered Grand Slam tournament. He already has titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Winning in Paris would have made him only the seventh player in the Open Era (and the youngest in recent decades) to complete the Career Slam. That dream is now postponed for at least a year, and returning to Paris in 2027 will be a psychologically tough challenge.
For Argentine tennis, this victory was a celebration. Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, ranked 56th at the time, pulled off the biggest feat of his career. Notably, his older brother, Francisco Cerúndolo, also advanced confidently to the second round. The Cerúndolo brothers are a phenomenon of this Roland Garros. Their joint success recalled the story of the Meyer brothers (1979) and the Zverev brothers (2018), who also reached the third round of the Paris tournament.
Moreover, this victory ended Sinner's dominance on the tour. Players who feared the Italian saw his vulnerability—a strong dependence on physical condition. Sinner, nicknamed "The Robot" for his consistency, malfunctioned at the most crucial moment.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
As for the tournament draw, Roland Garros 2026 has lost its main favorite. The opening window of opportunity has already led to a reassessment of the odds. Immediately after Sinner's exit, bookmakers revised their quotes. The new main favorite in the men's singles is world No. 3, German Alexander Zverev.
Zverev, who has never won a Grand Slam in his career, now has perhaps the best chance of his life. In his section of the draw, there is no longer a major monster. In the third round, Zverev will play against a French tennis player, and in the fourth, he could face Russian tennis player Karen Khachanov.
As for Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, he awaits the third round, where he will meet the winner of the match between players in the lower part of the draw. Given that he expended an incredible amount of physical and emotional energy in the match against Sinner, advancing far in the tournament will be extremely difficult for him. However, the sensation has already happened—this guy has forever written his name in tennis history.
Editorial Forecast
Although the event has already occurred, it is worth noting its impact on the further course of the tournament. With Sinner's elimination, the men's Roland Garros draw has become completely open.
The main favorite now appears to be Alexander Zverev, who has long deserved a major but has always stumbled on psychology in decisive matches. His main competitors will likely be Carlos Alcaraz (if he hasn't been eliminated earlier) and the experienced Novak Djokovic, if the Serb has enough strength for the second week of the tournament. However, it must be admitted that without Sinner, the tournament has lost half of its luster. Intrigue remains, but we will no longer see the final everyone expected—the battle between the two best tennis players of the modern era (Sinner and Alcaraz). For Alcaraz, this is a chance to pull ahead in the race for the top spot; for Zverev, it is a chance to finally break the curse and take the title that has eluded him for so long.
— Editorial Team
