World No. 1 Sinner suffers shock exit in French Open second round, cites physical exhaustion

(CNA, Paris, May 28) Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner said he ran out of energy during today's French Open men's singles second-round match, bringing his 30-match winning streak to a sudden halt. AFP reports that Sinner, the world No. 1 and top seed, was a heavy favorite for this year's French Open title. However, on another scorching day in Paris, he collapsed, losing in a dramatic five-set match to Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Sinner appeared to have the match in hand, leading by two sets and holding a 5-1 advantage in the third, but he collapsed completely, losing 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 1-6, 1-6. The 24-year-old Italian, a four-time Grand Slam champion, revealed after the match that he suffered from dehydration and dizziness, even feeling nauseous. "I had no strength today. Things like this happen; no one is a robot," he said. The Italian left Court Philippe Chatrier for medical treatment before the final set. Minutes later, he returned, but Cerundolo sensed an opportunity against his ailing opponent. Sinner added, "I was struggling and started to feel very dizzy. My whole body felt very, very weak. I don't remember the last time I felt this weak." He said, "I woke up this morning feeling unwell, so I tried to shorten the rallies. At first, my shots were crisp and precise, but then I just ran out of energy." Sinner revealed that in the record-breaking heat wave in France, with temperatures climbing above 30 degrees Celsius, his energy began to fade midway through the third set. However, he refused to blame the weather for the exit, which was his earliest Grand Slam exit since losing at the same stage here in 2023. "It was warm, but not scorching. Honestly, it had nothing to do with the heat or the weather. Today was purely my own problem, but these things happen," Sinner said. He noted, "I don't want to take anything away from his (Cerundolo's) performance. He played a very solid match." Sinner arrived in Paris with the momentum of winning three clay-court Masters titles, and with his rival Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury, he was widely expected to complete a career Grand Slam at this year's French Open.