Cerundolo Stuns World No. 1 Sinner in Epic Five-Set Shock at French Open

Paris, May 2026 : Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo produced one of the biggest upsets of the French Open on Thursday, defeating World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a dramatic second-round clash that ended the Italian’s bid for a Career Grand Slam in a physically draining five-set battle at Roland Garros.

Cerundolo, ranked World No. 56, came from two sets and a breakdown to defeat Sinner 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 after more than three hours of intense action at Court Philippe-Chatrier. The Argentine sealed the win by winning 18 of the last 20 games as Sinner visibly struggled with physical discomfort and cramp from the third set onwards.

Sinner appeared firmly in control of the match early on. The top seed took the first two sets comfortably and even led 5-1 in the third, moving within touching distance of a straight-sets victory. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when he began showing signs of severe cramping, struggling with movement and balance in the Paris heat.

The Italian twice failed to serve out the match in the third set and later required an off-court medical timeout at 5-4, 0/40, as concern grew over his physical condition. From that moment, Sinner’s mobility deteriorated further, allowing Cerundolo to seize control of the contest.

Sensing his opponent’s decline, Cerundolo played with patience and precision, using drop shots and angled rallies to stretch Sinner across the court. The Argentine capitalised fully, breaking Sinner repeatedly and dominating the final two sets 6-1, 6-1 to complete a stunning comeback.

“It’s tough for him,” Cerundolo said after the match. “I couldn’t win more than three games in a set earlier, so I was a little bit lucky. He deserved to win this match, and then I don’t know what happened. I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers.”

The defeat ends Sinner’s remarkable 30-match winning streak and halts his pursuit of the only Grand Slam missing from his collection. The Italian had entered Roland Garros as the dominant force in men’s tennis in 2026, having already claimed five ATP Masters 1000 titles this season and holding a 37-3 win-loss record.

Sinner was also aiming to become only the seventh male player in the Open Era to complete a Career Grand Slam. However, his campaign in Paris ended in disappointment after a match that turned sharply due to physical breakdown rather than tactical failure.

Despite his condition, Sinner briefly displayed flashes of brilliance, including several powerful forehands struck while stationary. But his limited movement allowed Cerundolo to dictate rallies and gradually dismantle the World No. 1’s resistance.

The loss adds another painful chapter to Sinner’s history at Roland Garros, where he famously squandered three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final. His coaching team, led by Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, attempted to encourage him throughout the match, but the extreme conditions and physical strain proved overwhelming.

With Sinner now out of the tournament and Alcaraz sidelined due to a wrist injury, the men’s draw has suddenly opened up, leaving Roland Garros without its two dominant champions for the first time in years.

Cerundolo, meanwhile, advances to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career. He will next face either Spain’s Martin Landaluce or Czech player Vit Kopriva, as he continues his breakthrough run in Paris.