Paris, May 28: A significant upset occurred at the French Open on Thursday. Jannik Sinner, a strong contender for the singles title, has been eliminated from the tournament. The world number one was defeated by Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo with a score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. This loss dashed Sinner’s hopes of completing a career Grand Slam.
The match, which stretched over five sets, saw Sinner leading 5-1 in the third set of his second-round match. It seemed victory was within his grasp. However, he suddenly faced a muscle strain issue. The 24-year-old Sinner attempted to serve twice to secure the match but was unsuccessful both times. Additionally, at a score of 5-4, 0/40, he had to leave the court for medical assistance.
After that, Sinner was never able to regain his fitness. Cerundolo capitalized on the Italian star’s injury, winning 18 out of the last 20 games, marking one of the biggest upsets of 2026.
Cerundolo, ranked 56th in the world, became the first player since 2000 to eliminate a top seed before the third round of this major tournament. This achievement was previously held by Karol Kučera in 2000.
Following his victory, Cerundolo commented on Sinner, saying, “It was very difficult for him. I couldn’t win more than three games in a set, so I was a bit lucky. He deserved to win this match, but then something changed. I feel bad for him and hope he recovers soon.”
In the third round, Cerundolo will face either Spanish player Martín Landaluce or Czech player Vít Kopřiva.
For Sinner, this defeat has shattered his dreams of a career Grand Slam. The French Open remains the only title he has yet to win. With Carlos Alcaraz already absent from the tournament due to injury, Sinner was considered a strong favorite for the singles title. After winning 30 consecutive matches, this loss extends Sinner’s wait for a French Open victory for at least another year.
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