Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts to the heat during a second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina at the 2026 French Open on Thursday in Paris. Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA
May 28 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Jannik Sinner was one game away from a win, but cramped and withered in the Paris sun in a shocking second-round setback Thursday at the 2026 French Open.
The Italian, who was the tournament favorite, won the first two sets and held a 5-1 lead in the third. He then started to cramp and lost 18 of the final 20 games to No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo, resulting in his elimination at Roland Garros.
"I think I was a little bit lucky," Cerundolo said on the broadcast. "I feel sorry for him because he deserved to win a lot of matches. He was serving to win this match, then I don't know what happened. I think he was cramping and maybe the pressure.
"I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers."
