Jannik Sinner unexpectedly exits Roland-Garros after loss to Cerundolo. Jannik Sinner, considered the main contender for the Roland-Garros 2026 title, ended his run as early as the second round. The Italian lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo after struggling with health issues and an injury.
Roland-Garros 2026 has lost one of its main favorites right from the start: Jannik Sinner, the world number one, unexpectedly lost in the second round to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The match ended 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in favor of Cerundolo, who is ranked 56th in the ATP rankings. The 24-year-old Italian could not cope with the heat and was forced to seek medical assistance in the third set due to a hip problem.
From the very beginning, Sinner looked insecure: after an easy first-round win over Clément Tabur, it was expected he would continue his pursuit of a first title in Paris. However, his physical condition suddenly worsened in the second round. During the match, Sinner clearly showed signs of discomfort, which allowed Cerundolo to turn the tide and claim a comeback victory after trailing 0-2 in sets.
With Carlos Alcaraz absent from this year’s Roland-Garros, Sinner was considered the main contender for the title. His early exit became one of the tournament's most talked-about events. Now Cerundolo advances to the third round, where he will meet the winner of the Martin Landaluce vs. Vit Korpiva match.
Roland-Garros has traditionally been a stage for unexpected turns and upsets. Last season, Barcelona's women's team also finished the year on a high note, which was analyzed in detail in the report on the match against Real Sociedad: details on Barcelona's end of the season.
For reference: Jannik Sinner reached the top of the world rankings for the first time in his career in 2026 and was considered one of the most consistent players of the season. Juan Manuel Cerundolo had previously never advanced beyond the third round at Grand Slam tournaments. The hot weather in Paris this year has already caused problems for athletes several times, which could affect the further course of Roland-Garros.
