Jannik Sinner’s Struggle in French Open’s Heat

Jannik Sinner’s aim for a career Grand Slam ended at the French Open during the second round, where he faced a sudden defeat. The world No. 1, with a winning streak of 30 matches, lost to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, ranked 56th globally. The match outcome was influenced significantly by the heat, a known weakness for Sinner.

Sinner’s struggle with challenging conditions was evident from the beginning of the tournament. The biggest threat for him came not from his competitors but from the environment. His previous encounters with high temperatures at the Australian Open and Shanghai Masters demonstrated similar struggles. In Melbourne, he narrowly escaped elimination due to the tournament’s heat rule, which provided relief. However, in Paris, he had no such reprieve.

As the match progressed with temperatures soaring to around 90 degrees, the conditions on Court Philippe-Chatrier overwhelmed Sinner. He initially appeared dominant, leading 6-3, 6-2, 5-2, but then experienced a sudden collapse, losing 18 consecutive points. Sinner, suffering from significant discomfort, left the court pleading dizziness for treatment. Although he briefly seemed to recover during the fourth set, Cerúndolo’s unwavering focus and defense outmatched him.

In the final sets, Cerúndolo’s strategy of maintaining consistent play tested Sinner’s endurance. Cerúndolo swiftly took the fourth set and maintained his lead in the decider. Sinner’s challenge ended as he could not regain control, allowing Cerúndolo to secure victory.

The result leaves the 2026 French Open men’s draw wide open. With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out, Sinner was a favorite but is now out of the competition. This scenario underscores the continuing impact of weather conditions on Sinner’s career.

Meanwhile, this victory marks a significant achievement for Cerúndolo, as he advances to meet Martin Landaluce of Spain or Vít Kopřiva of Czechia in the third round.