No player had arrived at Roland Garros carrying such overwhelming expectations since Rafael Nadal dominated the French Open with a record 14 titles.
Jannik Sinner had been virtually untouchable over the previous three months, collecting five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, including three on clay, while putting together a 30-match winning streak.
With his fiercest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, sidelined by a right wrist injury, the path appeared clear for Sinner to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires and complete a career Grand Slam.
That is what made Thursday’s collapse in the sweltering Paris heat so shocking. Sinner stood just one game away from sealing his second-round match in straight sets while leading 5-1 in the third set, only for everything to suddenly unravel.
The top-ranked Sinner struggled with dizziness and was beaten by 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 after wasting two opportunities to serve for the match.
