'SHOCK IN PARIS!': 'Dizzy' Jannik Sinner stunned as French Open favourite bounced by world No.56
Updated . First published at
Not since Rafael Nadal was winning his record 14 French Opens had a player come to Roland Garros as such an overwhelming favourite to win the clay-court grand slam.
Jannik Sinner had won everything there was to win in tennis over the past three months: five straight Masters 1000 titles — three of them on clay — and 30 straight matches.
And with Carlos Alcaraz, his biggest rival, out due to an injured right wrist, it seemed almost a foregone conclusion that Sinner would raise the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy and complete a career Grand Slam.
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That's why Sinner's meltdown amid the Paris heat wave was so stunning — especially after he came within just one game of concluding his second-round match in straight sets when he led 5-1 in the third.
Jannik Sinner of Italy looks dejected as he uses an ice towel in attempt to cool down. Getty
The top-ranked Sinner struggled with dizziness and was beaten by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 after wasting two chances to serve for the match.
"I didn't feel very well on court," Sinner said.
"I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy, very low on energy. ... In the beginning, I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall.
"I didn't have energy, really. I was very, very flat. The whole body. I don't remember last time I felt this weak," Sinner added.
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Sinner said that when he woke up on Thursday he "didn't feel very well".
Sinner bent over on the clay court in apparent exhaustion multiple times and was hardly even running for shots as the match wore on, resorting to drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics to try and shorten the points.
He attempted to cool himself with a hand-held fan on changeovers and put bags of ice around his neck.
The temperature at the start of the match was 29 degrees and rose to 32.
"It was warm but not crazy warm," Sinner said.
"I feel like it was quite OK to play. Really it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens."
Jannik Sinner speaks to a member of medical staff. Getty
Cerundolo didn't celebrate too much when it was over, just producing a little wave to the crowd.
"It's tough for him," Cerundolo said.
"I couldn't win more than three games by set. So I think I was a little bit lucky. … He was deserving to win in this match. But then I don't know what happened. … I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers."
When Sinner served for the match a second time at 5-4 in the third set, he bent over at 0-40 and then walked to his chair. He asked for assistance and left the court. His entire light blue outfit was soaked through with sweat.
After losing the set 7-5, Sinner received medical attention and left the court. Minerals were added to his drink when he returned but Sinner wasn't able to recuperate.
Sinner lost 18 of the last 20 games. Asked if he considered retiring before the match ended, Sinner said that in the "fifth set we all know everything can happen. I was in a tough spot."
Sinner's previous loss came February 19 in the Qatar Open quarter finals. He had won five straight Masters titles while dropping just three sets.
"We'll definitely do some tests to be sure of what happened today," he said.
Jannik Sinner of Italy cools himself with the water during a break. AP Photo/Thibault Camus
"Let's hope we're ready for Wimbledon," Sinner added. "To be ready there, we need to recuperate well and do things right now."
But Sinner has a history of struggling in the heat. He admitted he was lucky at the Australian Open in January against Eliot Spizzirri when the roof was closed and the third-round match swung his way. And he had to retire from a match in Shanghai in October that was contested amid extreme humidity.
"Shanghai was very tough. Humidity very high. Australia was very, very warm," Sinner said. "Here, I mean it was warm, but it was OK. It was not like I was dying because of the heat. I think today was completely different scenario.
"It's tough to accept, of course, because of the position where I've been in and everything considered," added Sinner.
On the same Court Philippe Chatrier last year, Sinner wasted three match points against Alcaraz and lost an epic final.
