Sinner sensation: Top seed felled by the heat

Jannik Sinner’s 30-match win streak ended in brutal fashion on Thursday as the world No. 1 lost his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo after dominating in the first two sets.

The world No. 1 and runaway title favourite was struck by heat illness and cramping as he led two sets and 5-1 in the third.

But any chances of a routine straight-sets result evaporated in 33 Celsius heat,with Cerundolo earning the win of his life 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.

Sinner’s problems began late in the third set on the cusp of the win, with the 24-year-old likely starting to cramp while feeling poorly.

He was broken for 5-3 while serving for the match and lost 11 points in a row as his physical decline picked up speed.

The Italian leaned heavily on his racquet after points and appeared listless in his shot as his strength waned. He applied the ice towels and hand-held fan at every opportunity on changeovers as he slumped in his chair. 

The doctor and trainer arrived as the top seed stood 5-4, 0-40 and took him off court under the rules for what amounted to five minutes of treatment.

The session did little good as Cerundolo won the set to suddenly move into contention.

Sinner went off court after the set but showed no improvement as he lost seven games on the trot as the match hit the three-hour mark.

It was just a matter of time as Cerundolo finished off the fading world No. 1 with a volley winner on the first of three match points.

“It was tough for him, the Argentine winner said. “I also feel a bit lucky. He was serving to win the match. I hope he recovers quickly.

“I’m super-happy to be in the third round. Clay is my best surface and I hope to be ready for the next match.”

The loss was the second major shock for Sinner here after wasting three match points in the 2025 Paris final against Carlos Alcaraz.

Cerundolo is the fifth player at Roland Garros to defeat a world No. 1 before the third round in the Open era.

He is the first since Karol Kucera in 2000 to beat the world No. 1 here.

“I didn’t feel very well on court, but it can happen,” Sinner said. “I was in a good spot, but third set, I couldn’t serve it out. 

“Congrats to him. I don’t want to take anything away from him. He played a very solid match, especially also in the end.

“I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy (third set), very low on energy. 

“I tried to serve it out, but didn’t have a lot of energy. Fourth set, I let it go a little bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth. I couldn’t hold and then it all went a bit downwards.”   

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner suffering heat exhaustion as he loses from 2 sets and 5-1 up – ©ATPTour.com