Jannik Sinner collapses in Paris heat to exit French Open in stunning shock second round

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts as he plays against Juan Manuel Cerundola of Argentina. (AP photo) World number one Jannik Sinner suffered one of the most dramatic defeats of his career after collapsing physically in the sweltering Paris heat to crash out of the French Open in the second round on Thursday.The Italian star, widely seen as the overwhelming favorite for the title after the withdrawal of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, squandered a two-set lead before losing 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6 to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundol in a stunning turnaround on Court Philippe Chatrier.Sinner’s shock exit blew the men’s draw wide open and ended his remarkable 30-match winning streak stretching back to February.Nightmare from the heat derails Sinner’s dominanceThe 24-year-old looked to be in complete control for over two hours and was just one game away from victory when serving at 5-4 in the third set. But the match took a sudden turn as Sinner looked physically exhausted in the brutal Paris conditions.With temperatures soaring to 32 degrees Celsius, Sinner repeatedly bent over in exhaustion as he struggled to move freely around the court. After feeling dizzy and nauseous, he asked the referee for help before leaving the field for medical treatment.The Italian returned in the same pale blue sweat-soaked outfit, with ice packs around his neck and minerals added to his drinks, but the damage had already been done.From a comfortable lead, Sinner surprisingly dropped 18 points in a row as Cerundolo sensed a historic opportunity.

Jannik Sinner from Italy cools down with ice. (AP photo)

Cerundolo script upset careerWhile Sinner was weakening physically, Cerundolo was getting stronger with each match. The world No. 56 relentlessly extended rallies, forcing a depleted top seed into desperate shots and risky serve and volley tactics.After winning the third set, the Argentine completely dominated the last two sets as Sinner struggled to even chase routine points. The Italian doubled repeatedly between points while Cerundolo played fearless attacking tennis.The victory marked the biggest win of Cerundola’s career and sent him into the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo returns to Italy’s Jannik Sinner during their second round men’s singles match. (AP photo)

Sinner’s defeat is his first major tournament exit since the 2023 French Open and raises fresh concerns about his struggles in extreme heat. He also struggled physically during a tough Australian Open match against Eliot Spizzirri earlier this year.The Italian arrived in Paris after winning titles in Rome, Madrid, Monte Carlo, Miami and Indian Wells, and many believed this was finally his year to complete a career Grand Slam.Instead, his French Open dream ended in collapse under the scorching Paris sun.