Too hot to handle? Jannik Sinner has cramps and crashes at the French Open

Jannik Sinner’s French Open campaign came to a dramatic end on Thursday (May 28) after the world number one lost in five sets to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundol in Paris. Battling the unrelenting heat on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Sinner struggled physically despite appearing to be firmly in control of the contest.

On Thursday, May 28, he played the opening match on center court. Sinner complained of dizziness and dehydration late in the third set while leading 5-1 and inches away from victory. The world number one took a medical break, but she never looked the same when she returned to the court.

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SINNER TRYING TO MOVE AFTER MEDICAL BREAK

After a medical break, Sinner struggled to move freely and ended up conceding three consecutive sets before eventually being eliminated in the second round. The Italian battled in the heat for 3 hours and 36 minutes before losing 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6.

French Open players have struggled with intense heat waves in recent years of the tournament. The 2026 edition stipulated that the top players must play at least one match during the day for the sake of competition fairness.

The Italian earlier looked set for a comfortable passage to the third round after dominating the opening two sets with his trademark power and accuracy from the baseline. Sinner repeatedly pinned Cerundolo deep behind the court and dictated plays with ease, putting him in a commanding position in the match.

However, the pace shifted dramatically in the third set. Serving at 5-1, Sinner began to show visible signs of discomfort in the Paris heat. The Italian repeatedly clutched his inner thigh and struggled with movement during longer rallies. After dropping the serve despite holding comfortably throughout the match up to that point, Sinner’s physical condition had visibly deteriorated.

At 0-40 in the next service game, trying to close out the match, Sinner called for a medical time-out and left the court briefly after consulting with the umpire and physio. He returned looking far from comfortable and unable to regain control of the contest.

CERUNDOLO RETURNS FOR HIS CHANCE

Young Cerundolo sensed an opportunity immediately. The Argentine increased the intensity from the baseline and used his exceptional court coverage to stretch Sinner into difficult positions. As Sinner struggled to move freely, Cerundolo repeatedly aimed for corners, forcing the Italian into points he could no longer physically hold.

At 1-5 down, the Argentine battled back to win the third set 7-5, then completely took over the match in the fourth, winning it 6-1. Sinner, meanwhile, seemed increasingly limited in movement, at times choosing not to chase down balls that would normally be within reach.

The defeat marked one of the most dramatic collapses of Sinner’s career and sparked fresh concerns about the player’s well-being at the French Open in the brutal Paris heat. However, it was a breakthrough moment for Cerundolo on the biggest stage as the Argentine held his nerve against the world number one to achieve one of the finest victories of his career to advance to the third round in Paris.

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

28 May 2026 19:25 IST