'Everyone thought Sinner would win': French Open upset stuns tennis world

The tennis world was stunned as world number one Jannik Sinner experienced a dramatic upset at the French Open, falling to the unheralded 56th-ranked Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. Sinner, who had been on an extraordinary 30-match winning streak and claimed five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, including three on clay, was considered the overwhelming favorite to win the tournament, especially with his main rival Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury.

The Italian star's downfall occurred amid the Paris heatwave. Sinner appeared to struggle significantly, reporting dizziness and a severe lack of energy. He was leading 5-1 in the third set and had two chances to serve for the match before Cerúndolo mounted an incredible comeback, ultimately winning 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. "I didn't feel very well on court," Sinner admitted after the match. "I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy, very low on energy … in the beginning, I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall."

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I didn't feel very well on court. I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy, very low on energy … in the beginning, I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall.

Sinner's previous loss dated back to February 19. His remarkable run saw him drop only three sets across his recent Masters titles. He indicated that medical tests would be conducted to understand the cause of his collapse. "We'll definitely do some [medical] tests to be sure of what happened today," Sinner said. "Let's hope we're ready for Wimbledon. To be ready there, we need to recuperate well and do things right now."

This is not the first time Sinner has faced challenges in hot conditions. He acknowledged getting "lucky" at the Australian Open earlier in the year when a match was moved indoors, and he had previously retired from a match in Shanghai due to extreme humidity. While he stated the Paris heat was "OK" and not the sole reason for his collapse, his history suggests a sensitivity to extreme temperatures. Sinner's exit, alongside Alcaraz's absence, leaves the men's draw wide open, creating a significant opportunity for other top players, including Novak Djokovic, to contend for a major title.

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We'll definitely do some [medical] tests to be sure of what happened today. Let's hope we're ready for Wimbledon. To be ready there, we need to recuperate well and do things right now.