Jannik Sinner has been sensationally knocked out of the French Open after suffering from cramping when serving for the match during his second-round clash against Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The world No 1 and hot favourite at Roland-Garros was struggling during the third set, losing 15 points in a row before calling for a medical timeout and treatment in the middle of a game when 6-3 6-2 5-1 ahead and serving for the match.
Courtside mics also captured Sinner saying he felt dizzy and nauseous as he fell 0-40 down on serve. The Italian had moved 5-1 ahead in the third but proceeded to lose the next six games before and after treatment to lose the set 7-5.
Sinner was broken twice in the fourth set with his body continuing to fail him, before the final set saw Cerundolo break straight away and, barring some nervy moments, clinch the match, winning the decider 6-1.
Sinner was on a 30-match winning streak stretching back to February and he was an overwhelming favourite heading into the second Grand Slam of the season – especially with two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz out due to an injured right wrist.
Sinner bent over on the clay court in apparent exhaustion multiple times and was hardly even running for shots as the match wore on, resorting to drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics to try and shorten the points.
He attempted to cool himself with a hand-held fan on changeovers and put bags of ice around his neck.
The temperature at the start of the match was 29 degrees and then rose to 32 degrees.
On the same Court Philippe-Chatrier, Sinner wasted three match points against Alcaraz in last year’s final before losing the title match in a fifth-set tiebreaker.
Sinner also struggled in the heat at the Australian Open against Eliot Spizzirri in January. The roof was closed and the third-round match swung his way.
“It’s tough for him. He was winning the match. I couldn’t win more than three games [in any of the first two sets],” said Cerundolo.
“I think I was a little bit lucky, I feel sorry for him … he was serving to win this match, but then I don’t know what happened. I think he was cramping maybe, or maybe it was the pressure of the match, I don’t know.
“But of course I feel sorry for him and I hope he recovers. I’m super happy. I’m going to keep trying to play my best… I hope to be ready for the next match.”
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