World number one Jannik Sinner suffered one of the biggest shocks in recent French Open history, losing in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Italian, who had won his previous 30 matches, said he 'couldn't find any energy' on court but insisted the Paris heat was not to blame.
Sinner, the top seed, was expected to be a strong contender for the title at Roland Garros. His defeat leaves Novak Djokovic as the only grand slam winner remaining in the men's singles draw, with the Serb now widely seen as the clear favourite. The scale of the upset was underlined by Sinner's 30-match unbeaten run, which had included his first major title at the Australian Open in January.
“World number one Jannik Sinner lost in the French Open second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, ending his 30-match winning streak and leaving Novak Djokovic as the only grand slam winner left in the men's draw.”
'It's not a nice feeling, obviously, to lose in the second round of a grand slam,' Sinner told reporters after the match. 'But sometimes these things happen. I had a tough day. I didn't feel the ball that well, and he played very well from the baseline. He deserved to win.'
The defeat is particularly striking given Sinner's dominant form this season. He had not lost a match since March, when he was defeated by Carlos Alcaraz in Indian Wells. Since then, he had won the Miami Open and the Monte Carlo Masters, as well as reaching the semi-finals in Madrid. The loss to Cerundolo, a qualifier ranked outside the top 100, is one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history.
Cerundolo, a left-hander from Argentina, broke Sinner's serve six times and won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in just over two hours. The world number one struggled with his first-serve percentage, landing only 54% of his first deliveries, and made 39 unforced errors. 'I didn't have any energy today, which was strange,' Sinner said. 'But the heat was not the reason. I felt fine physically. It was more mental. I just couldn't find my rhythm.'
The result has major implications for the men's draw. With Sinner out, Djokovic, the 24-time major champion, becomes the only active male player with a grand slam title still in the tournament. The Serb, who has struggled with form and injury this year, now has a clear path to what would be a record-breaking 25th major. Djokovic will face Lorenzo Musetti in the third round on Thursday.
For British tennis fans, Sinner's exit adds further intrigue to an already unpredictable tournament. With no British men's player left in the singles draw after Andy Murray's first-round loss, many will now turn their attention to Djokovic's quest for history. The Serbian has won the French Open three times, most recently in 2023, and will be eager to capitalise on Sinner's early departure.
Sinner's defeat also raises questions about the physical demands of the modern game. The Italian, 22, has been one of the most consistent players on tour, but his sudden loss of energy will be a concern. 'I need to understand why this happened,' he said. 'I have to look at what I can do better. The season is long, and I have to recover and get ready for the grass-court season.'
What happens next for Djokovic? The Serb, who turned 37 last month, knows this may be his best chance to add to his grand slam tally. With no other former major winners in his half of the draw, he can focus on his own game. 'It's now or never for Novak,' said one tennis insider. The second week at Roland Garros promises to be compelling.
## What This Means For You For UK tennis fans watching the French Open, Sinner's shock exit reshapes the men's draw entirely. If you had placed bets on Sinner to win, you may want to reassess. Djokovic is now the overwhelming favourite, and his path to the final looks relatively clear. For those following the tournament, the next few days will be crucial as the remaining contenders emerge. Keep an eye on Djokovic's form and fitness as he attempts to make history.