Jannik Sinner Shocked by Cerundolo in Stunning French Open Exit

The 2026 French Open has produced its first big shock. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was sensationally knocked out of Roland Garros on Thursday after suffering a stunning second-round defeat to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

ALSO READ: Alcaraz Out of Roland Garros: Boost for Sinner & Djokovic.

And what makes the result even more unbelievable is how dominant Sinner initially looked.

The Italian stormed into a two-set lead and was just one game away from victory at 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 before his match completely unravelled in the Paris heat.

Cerundolo then produced the comeback of his career, winning the next three sets 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 to eliminate the tournament favourite in one of the most dramatic collapses seen at Roland Garros in years.

From Complete Control to Total Collapse

For the opening two sets, the match looked exactly as most expected. Sinner entered the French Open as the overwhelming favourite after:

• winning 30 consecutive matches
• dominating the clay-court season
• and arriving in Paris, chasing the only Grand Slam title missing from his collection

Against Cerundolo, the Italian appeared completely in control early on. His baseline hitting was sharp, his movement looked comfortable, and he quickly established a commanding two-set lead.

When Sinner moved 5-1 ahead in the third set and prepared to serve for the match, few inside Court Philippe-Chatrier could have imagined what was about to happen.

The Heat Took Over

As temperatures climbed above 30°C in Paris, Sinner began visibly struggling physically. Courtside microphones reportedly captured the Italian saying he felt dizzy and nauseous before he called for a medical timeout during the third set.

From that point onward, his level collapsed dramatically.

Sinner lost 15 consecutive points during one stretch and began cramping heavily as Cerundolo sensed an opportunity. After stealing the third set 7-5, Cerundolo dominated the remainder of the match while Sinner increasingly struggled to move freely.

The final two sets became almost unrecognisable compared to the opening hour.

What This Means for the Men’s Draw

Sinner’s elimination completely transforms the men’s side of the tournament. With Carlos Alcaraz already absent, the world No. 1 was widely expected to control the draw. Now, suddenly, Roland Garros feels completely open again.

Players like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and several emerging contenders will now sense a huge opportunity. For Cerundolo, confidence will now be sky-high heading into the later rounds.