Sinner blames illness rather than extreme heat after crashing out of French Open
The Guardian • • sports
Key Points:
- World No. 1 Jannik Sinner suffered a shocking second-round loss at the French Open to Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, citing physical difficulties and feeling unwell as key factors in his 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 defeat.
- Sinner entered the match on a 30-match winning streak and was a heavy favorite to win the tournament, especially with last year’s champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury.
- Despite leading 5-1 in the third set, Sinner experienced a dramatic physical collapse, losing 18 consecutive points and ultimately the match, raising questions about his preparation and recovery strategy.
- The upset opens the men’s draw, making Alexander Zverev the new favorite and leaving Novak Djokovic as the only former Grand Slam champion remaining, intensifying his pursuit of a record 25th major title.
- In other French Open news, 17-year-old Moise Kouame made headlines by reaching the third round after a grueling five-set win, while Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Aryna Sabalenka also advanced to the third round.