Massive blow at Roland-Garros! The world number and big favorite Jannik Sinner, very physically affected, was knocked down in the second round by the Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo (56th), winner in five sets (3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1) this Thursday.
While leading 5-2 in the third set in stifling heat on Center Court, the 24-year-old Italian collapsed and let victory slip away after largely dominating the start of the match.
Thirty successes in a row
Ultra favorite in the absence of double title holder Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner will not experience the second week in Paris, he who remained on an incredible series on the circuit of 30 victories after his titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome this year. He has not been out so early in a Grand Slam since Roland-Garros 2023.
Defeated in an epic final last year against his Spanish rival Alcaraz, Sinner will therefore not take advantage of the Spaniard’s package to win the only Grand Slam title missing from his record.
His defeat combined with the absence of the double title holder frees up space for Novak Djokovic, in search of a historic 25th Grand Slam tournament, and for Alexander Zverev, seeded number two who is aiming for a very first Major.
In the third set, after losing 15 points in a row against the Argentine, the Italian sat on the advertising posters on the side to regain his senses at 4-5, 0-40 after more than two hours of play.
Cramps or dehydration?
The referee came down to the news and the Italian replied that he didn’t know if it was “dehydration” or something else, while he was using his racket like a cane to hold himself, perhaps affected by cramps.
The Italian had the right to an intervention from a trainer, before going to the locker room for several minutes for “an assessment” of his state of health, the referee said.
Nothing went the right way for the number one, who lost this round before registering only one game in the next and another in the decisive fifth set.
It was a disastrous spectacle to see the best player in the world making a series of blatant mistakes, unable to go up to the net to play drop shots, taking advantage of each little break to stretch, painfully leaning on his racket, and of each change of side to stick an ice pack on his neck or pour a bottle on his head, haggard.
He had to retire last October during the Masters 1000 in Shanghai (China), already for similar reasons.
“At the beginning I couldn’t win more than three games per set, eventually I got lucky,” admitted Cerundolo. It was used to win the match. Maybe the pressure or the heat, I don’t know, I feel sorry for him.”
