World number one Jannik Sinner was knocked out in the second round of the French Open 2026 on Thursday after losing to unseeded Argentine player Juan Manuel Cerundolo in a five-set match. Despite taking a commanding lead in the opening sets, Sinner struggled with heat and fitness issues as Cerundolo secured the victory.
The match was played in hot conditions in Paris, where temperatures on court continued to rise. Sinner appeared on course to progress comfortably after dominating the opening stages, but the momentum shifted during the third set.
Italian player Jannik Sinner began the match aggressively, relying on b baseline strokes and powerful serving to win the opening two sets 6-3 and 6-2. Cerundolo struggled under pressure in the early stages and was unable to respond to Sinner’s attacking play.
Sinner also held a 5-1 lead in the third set and appeared one game away from victory. However, his physical condition deteriorated during this period. According to reports, Sinner experienced dizziness and dehydration as the hot conditions in Paris affected him.
Sinner took a medical timeout because of health concerns. Although he returned to court, his performance changed thereafter. His movement slowed, and he struggled during extended rallies. Juan Manuel Cerundolo capitalised on the opportunity by using repeated drop shots and accurate strokes into the corners of the court to force Sinner to cover more ground. Sinner, struggling with fitness issues, failed to reach the ball on several occasions.
Cerundolo recovered to win the third set 7-5 and then dominated the fourth and fifth sets, winning both 6-1 to complete a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 victory.
Rising temperatures at the French Open 2026 have increased concerns over player fitness and safety. Tournament organisers scheduled several top players in daytime sessions, where temperatures remained high. This was Sinner’s first daytime match of the tournament, and he appeared to struggle in the heat. Following his defeat, debate intensified within tennis over player safety, match scheduling and the staging of matches in extreme heat.
Ranked 56th in the world, Juan Manuel Cerundolo secured one of the biggest victories of his career by defeating the world number one and advancing to the third round. The result also drew international attention to the Argentine player. Experts said the win could strengthen Cerundolo’s confidence and position him as a contender in future tournaments.
