Number one Jannik Sinner collapsed after leading by two sets
- Jannik Sinner lost after leading by two sets and 5-1
- Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff both reached the third round
- Carlos Alcaraz remains absent because of injury
- Sinner cited dizziness, low energy and cramps after the defeat
Jannik Sinner suffered one of the biggest shocks of the 2026 French Open after collapsing from a dominant position to lose in five sets to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round at Roland Garros.
Heading into the tournament, the expedctation was that Sinner would sweep the floor with his opponents. The world number one arrived in Paris as the firm favourite. It was not just a collapse in a single match but the unravelling of a campaign that had seemed almost inevitable after he claimed titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome.
The world number one appeared in complete control after winning the opening two sets and building a 5-1 lead in the third before Cerundolo mounted a remarkable comeback to win 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
Sinner later revealed he struggled physically during the match, citing dizziness, low energy levels and cramps in the Paris heat.
“I really need some time off to recover,” Sinner said after the defeat, who will have to try next year to win a maiden French Open title and complete the career Grand Slam.
“I struggled, started to feel very dizzy… I was very low of energy. I tried to serve it out (in the third set) but didn’t have a lot of energy.
“I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short. Also in the beginning, I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just hit the wall, that’s it.”
The upset dramatically changes the outlook of the men’s draw, particularly after defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament earlier because of injury. Reuters reported Sinner and Alcaraz had combined to win the previous nine Grand Slam titles entering Roland Garros.
Cerundolo, ranked outside the tournament favorites before the match, said remaining composed during Sinner’s physical struggles helped him turn the contest around.
“I’m super happy with the match,” the younger Cerundolo said, according to Reuters.
“The match was almost lost, but I stayed mentally (strong) during the whole match. I was prepared to battle as long as it took. I was lucky he had cramp and his level went down.
“I stayed mentally focused on the match, trying to do my best every ball. I’m super happy for the win.”
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka advanced into the third round after defeating France’s Elsa Jacquemot 6-4, 6-2. Sabalenka faced resistance during the opening set before taking control with her power and consistency from the baseline.
“She played unbelievable tennis,” Sabalenka said after the victory.
The Belarusian continues pursuing her first French Open title after previously winning multiple Grand Slam tournaments on hard courts.
Defending women’s champion Coco Gauff also progressed comfortably, defeating Egypt’s Mayar Sherif 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round. Gauff entered the tournament among the favorites after another strong clay-court season and remains one of the leading contenders in the women’s draw. Former world number one Naomi Osaka also advanced after defeating Donna Vekic 7-6(1), 6-4.
Belgium’s Raphael Collignon defeated fifth seed Ben Shelton in straight sets to reach the third round for the first time in his career.
French teenager Moise Kouame also continued his breakthrough run by reaching the third round, becoming one of the youngest men in the Open Era to achieve the feat at Roland Garros. With Sinner eliminated and Alcaraz absent, the men’s tournament has become significantly more open heading into the later rounds.
