Sinner shocked in French Open exit as Cerundolo recovers from two-sets down | Tennis News
Jannik Sinner Upset by Juan Manuel Cerundolo at Roland Garros
Published May 28, 2026
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s pursuit of his first French Open title ended in disappointment as he was defeated by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a dramatic second-round match at Roland Garros. The final score was 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
Sinner entered the tournament as the frontrunner, having won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury and Novak Djokovic still seeking his form, Sinner was positioned as a strong contender.
However, Cerundolo disrupted expectations during a heated match played under increasingly warm conditions. After Sinner took the first set comfortably, showcasing his power with a decisive forehand winner, he seemed to be in control. He led 2-0 in the second set, but Cerundolo mounted resistance, narrowing the gap before Sinner ultimately extended his lead.
The intensity shifted in the third set as Sinner initially surged to a 5-1 lead. However, he began to experience physical difficulties, prompting an off-court medical timeout. Upon his return, Sinner was broken while serving for the match at 5-4, allowing Cerundolo to claim the set, shifting momentum in his favor.
As the match progressed, Sinner struggled to regain his earlier form and was ultimately unable to mount a comeback in the fourth and fifth sets. Cerundolo capitalized on Sinner’s waning energy, taking an early break in the final set and securing a significant upset that left the tournament without its top seed.
