Jannik Sinner's run for a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros came to a sudden and painful halt Thursday, falling to Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round.
The top seed arrived in Paris as the heavy favorite, having swept the Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome claycourt titles. With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Novak Djokovic still searching for form, the path seemed clear. But Cerundolo had other plans, turning a seemingly routine match into a shocking upset as temperatures soared above 30 degrees Celsius.
Sinner dominated the opening two sets, losing just five games and appearing poised for a straight-sets victory. However, the Italian began to physically unravel in the third set, leading 5-1 before stopping play while serving at 5-4. "In the third set I felt dizzy and I wanted to vomit but I couldn't," he told an official before taking a medical timeout.
Returning after a five-minute break, Sinner was immediately broken, lost the set, and never recovered. He clutched his right thigh in the fourth as his mobility faded, and Cerundolo seized the opportunity to finish the match in five sets.
"I think I was a little bit lucky," Cerundolo admitted afterward. "He was serving to win this match, but then I don't know what happened. I think he was cramping maybe, or maybe it was the pressure."
The loss snaps Sinner's 30-match winning streak and ends the 'Sincaraz' run of nine consecutive Grand Slam titles. With Sinner out, Djokovic now has a golden chance to secure a record 25th major, while Alexander Zverev and several dark horses look to capitalize on the wide-open field.