Sinner Stunned By Cerundolo, Tenacious Roland-Garros Heat

Juan Manuel Cerundolo
Juan Manuel Cerundolo (photo: Roland-Garros video/YouTube)

PARIS/WASHINGTON, May 28, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

As Jannik Sinner was collapsing under the tenacious and sizzling Paris heat permeating Court Philippe-Chatrier at the French Open Thursday afternoon, TNT commentator Jim Courier, a two-time former Roland-Garros champion, said of the World No. 1 from Italy, “He has become human.”

The top-seeded Sinner from Italy, who brought a 30-match winning streak into his second-round contest with No. 56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina, was one game – just four points – away from winning No. 31, ahead 6-3, 6-2, 5-1. Then, in an instant, his 24-year-old body began to fail him – and the heat from the 90-degree Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) temperature caused him to start cramping.

Sinner’s body simply wilted – and it was painful to observe. He lost 18 points in a row as he began to fade. Heat has been Sinner’s nemesis – his enemy.

Arguably, the biggest threat to Sinner with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz of Spain not in the draw, recovering from a lingering wrist injury, was the playing conditions created by this week’s Paris heatwave – as much as any of the other 127 players in men’s singles draw. By the end of the afternoon, it proved true. Now, after Sinner and Alcaraz had dominated the Grand Slam scene together by winning the last nine majors, there will be a new champion crowned at the end of this Paris fortnight.

By the end of their three-hour, 36-minute saga, Sinner had lost, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 to the younger brother of No. 25 seed Francisco Cerundolo. The shock was a seismic one that could be heard throughout not only Court Philippe-Chatrier but around the Roland-Garros grounds and across the world.

With the Roland-Garros crown the only major title that Sinner has not won, he was aiming to become just the seventh man to achieve a career Grand Slam during the Open Era. His 30 match winning streak was built by winning five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles this season at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome.

As soon as Sinner’s body began to falter, it seemed almost predictable that Cerundolo would somehow find a way to win – and he did. He won 18 of the last 20 games of the match. There was no reprieve from the heat – the roof remained open – and there was little shade for Sinner to escape. 

Just how bad was Sinner’s physical condition? Serving at 5-4, 0-40 in the third set, Sinner left the court for treatment with a trainer after telling chair umpire Aurelie Tourte that he was feeling dizzy – a move that was criticized by TV commentators. When he returned, Sinner still did not look well. He appeared dazed and weak. Soon, Cerundolo broke and won the set, cutting Sinner’s lead to two sets to one. Later, the Argentine leveled the match at two sets each after winning the fourth set 6-1. Next, it was on to a decider and things continued to look bleak for Sinner. 

 

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Quickly, Cerundolo jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the final set before Sinner finally held his serve. Then, as Sinner tried to find a way to hold serve to prolong the agony of defeat, down 1-5 in the fifth set, Cerundolo broke his opponent’s serve for the eighth time in the match.

Finally, on match point, Cerundolo secured the biggest victory of his career – his first over a Top-10 opponent – by winning a cross-court forehand winner to cap a four-shot rally. Sinner’s remarkable 30-match winning streak was over and Cerundolo was alive and well and into the third round.

“It’s tough for him,” Cerundolo said during his on-court interview, describing Sinner, who leaves Paris with a 37-3 win-loss record this season. “I couldn’t win more than three games in a set, so I was a little bit lucky. He deserved to win this match, and then I don’t know what happened. But I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers.”

Later, during his post-match news conference, Cerundolo was asked how he managed to stay focused in light of Sinner’s deteriorating condition. “It was almost a loss but I stayed mentally [focused] throughout the whole match. I was prepared for battling for as long as it takes. When he started to cramp, his level went down, but mine went up. I tried to do my best every ball. I’m super happy for the win.”

 

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Meanwhile, Sinner was in a reflective mood when he spoke at his post-match news conference. He said in a quiet tone of voice: “I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy. Very low in energy. Tried to serve it out but didn’t have a lot of energy. Fourth set, I let it go a little bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth. Very important game the first one. Couldn’t hold. Then it went a bit downwards.

“I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short. Also, in the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall, and that’s it.”

Next, Cerundolo will play No. 69 Martin Landaluce of Spain, who came from two-sets-to-none down to defeat No. 66 Vit Kopriva of Czechia, 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-0, in three hours and 44 minutes on Court 9, behind 36 winners and eight of 10 break points converted. Landaluce outpointed Kopriva 137-135.

Frenchman Kouame is a rising star in the making

Moise Kouame, the 17-year-old Frenchman with the big smile and free spirit, became the fifth-youngest man in the Open Era to reach the third round at Roland-Garros – and it’s his Grand Slam debut, too.

The 318th-ranked wild card Kouame has become France’s newest tennis sensation after defeating No. 71 Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8), in four hours and 56 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. When he secured match point after coming back from 2-5 down in the fifth set, Kouame fell to his back in celebration. The raucous French crowd supporting him let loose with a hearty round of cheers. When Kouame stood up, he tapped his heart as he looked around, truly moved in appreciation of their support.

During his on-court interview, Kouame recalled something Carlos Alcaraz had said last year after winning the French Open title, after saving three championship points against Jannik Sinner: “Never stop believing.”

The victory meant Kouame had become the youngest man to reach the third round of a major since Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2003.

Along with 19-year-olds Rafael Jodar of Spain and Joao Fonseca of Brazil, Kouame complete the first trio of teenagers to reach the third round of a Grand Slam event since 2006, when it was a trio of 19-year-olds whose names were Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils, who achieved the milestone.

Against Vallejo, Kouame fired 67 winners, made 61 unforced errors and converted six of 13 break points. Vallejo countered with 60 winners, committed 54 unforced errors and broke Kouame seven times in 15 tries. Vallejo outpointed Kouame 174-173.

Next, Kouame will face No. 36 Alejandro Tabilo of Chile, who advanced to the third round by walk over against No. 16 seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who withdrew due to a foot injury.

Osaka reaches fourth round for first time since 2019

No. 16 seed Naomi Osaka of Japan defeated No. 72 Donna Vekic of Croatia, 7-6 (1), 6-4, in one hour and 50 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu to reach the Roland-Garros third round for the fourth time overall – but it’s her first time since 2019. It was the first meeting in seven years between Osaka and Vekic and the margins were close. Osaka finished with one more winner, 28 to 27, but also made one more unforced error, 33 to 32.

During her on-court interview afterwards, Osaka was asked if she had a different couture dress to walk on court for each round of the tournament. On Tuesday, she wore a black dress and Thursday it was a white one.

“You know, I like to keep people on their toes,” Osaka said. “I think it’s really fun. I feel like there’s a community that’s been built over my on-court outfits. I just like to keep you guys guessing. I really enjoy that you guys enjoy.”

Next, Osaka will face No. 17 seed Iva Jovic of the United States, who dropped just three games against fellow American Emma Navarro, winning 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and 18 minutes on Court 14, to reverse the result of their Strasbourg meeting last week won by the 25th-ranked Navarro in the second round.

Jovic, who was ranked 129th in the world at this time last year, has been a quick study after improving her ranking by 112 spots in the past 12 months. Against Navarro, she hit 18 winners, converted five of 12 break points and outpointed Navarro 62-39.

 

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Around the French Open

Men:

• No 10 seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy hit 35 winners and advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over No. 92 Wu Yibing of China in two hours and nine minutes on Court 7. Next, Cobolli will face No. 18 seed Learner Tien of the United States, who rallied from two-sets-to-one down and beat 151st-ranked qualifier Facundo Diaz Acosta of Argentina, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3, in three hours and 59 minutes on Court 6. Tien hit 44 winners to overcome 77 unforced errors, compared to 56 winners for Diaz Acosta and 81 unforced errors. 

• Zachary Svajda of the United States, ranked 85th, defeated 97th-ranked Australian wild card Adam Walton, 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2, in two hours and 45 minutes on Court 13, in back of 21 service aces and 70 winners overall. Next, he will face No. 25 seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who defeated 118th-ranked French wild card Hugo Gaston, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-1, iin two hours and 46 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu.

 

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• Jaime Faria, a 115th-ranked qualifier from Portugal, upset No. 80 Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-2, in two hours and 30 minutes on Court 12 to advance to the third round. Next, he will face No. 19 seed Frances Tiafoe of the United States, who battled for five sets against No. 99 Hubert Hurkacz of the Poland and prevailed, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, in four hours and 43 minutes on Court 14.

• Other seeds advancing: No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, who defeated No. 68 Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, 6-1, in three hours and four minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu. Auger-Aliassime hit 42 winners to overcome 47 unforced errors. He outpointed Burruchaga 126-93. Also, No. 31 Brandon Nakashima of the United States, who went four hours and 34 minutes on Court 7 before defeating No. 100 Luca Van Assche of France, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Nakashima’s victory was one of seven matches on Thursday that went five sets to decide the outcome. Nakashima struck 58 winners – including 12 aces – and outpointed his opponent 163-140.

 

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• The upsets: No. 5 seed Ben Shelton of the United States lost in straight sets to No. 62 Raphael Collignon of Belgium, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4, in two hours and one minute on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. Collignon won 88 percent (43 of 49) of his first-serve points, hit 31 winners, made only 13 unforced errors and benefited from 27 unforced and 35 forced errors by Shelton. Collignon outpointed his opponent 93-75.

Also, No, 14 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy lost a tough five-setter to No. 102 Francisco Comesana of Argentina,  7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in four hours and 10 minutes on Court 6. Comesana struck 64 winners in advancing to the third round; and No. 22 Arthur Rinderknech of France, who fell to No. 105 Matteo Berrettini of Italy, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, in two hours and 17 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Berrettini hit 31 winners and outpointed Rinderknech 99-83.

 

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Women:

• No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus has made it to the third round in all Grand Slam events she’s played in the past six years going back to the 2020 US Open. She’s not lost to an unseeded player at a Grand Slam losing to Mirra Andreeva at Roland-Garros in 2024. On Thursday afternoon, the World No. 1 garnered her WTA Tour-leading 26th victory of the season in back of hitting 45 winners with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over No. 67 Elsa Jacquemont of France in one hour and 35 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, behind 45 winners. She outpointed Jacquemont 73-56.

Next, Sabalenka will face No. 53 Daria Kasatkina of Australia, who defeated 215th-ranked Swiss qualifier Susan Bandecchi, 7-5, 7-6 (11), in two hours on Court 12.

 

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• Defending champion and this year’s No. 4 seed Coco Gauff of the United States advanced to the third round by winning her 23rd straight Tour-level match against an opponent ranked outside the Top 100 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over 129th-ranked qualifier Mayer Sherif of Egypt in one hour and 50 minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Next, Gauff will play No. 28 seed Anastasia Potapova of Austria, who defeated No. 71 Katie Boulter of Great Britain, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in two hours and six minutes on Court 13.

• No. 6 seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States needed just 25 minutes to advance to the third round after her opponent, No. 121 Julia Grabher of Austria, retired due to illness. Anisimova won the first set 6-0 on Court Suzanne-Lenglen. She converted three of four break points and outpointed Grabher 24-6 during the abbreviated match. Next, Anismova will face 92nd-ranked Diane Parry of France, who advanced over No. 30 seed Ann Li of the United States, 6-3, 6-4, in one hour and 34 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

 

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• No. 9 seed Victoria Mboko of Canada was pushed to three sets before defeating No. 36 Katerina Siniakova of Czechia, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in two hours and 39 minutes on Court Simonne-Mathieu. Mboko has reached the third round at Roland-Garros for the second-straight year after qualifying for the main draw last year.

 

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• Unseeded Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine, who has been highly critical of Russian and Belarusian players for their tactic support of Russia’s war in Ukraine, advanced into the third round of a major for the first time.

The 25-year-old Ukrainian, ranked 63rd, defeated No. 85 Kimberly Birrell of Australia, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (5), in two hours and 13 minutes on Court 10. She finished the win with an underhanded serve on match point.

Next, Oliynykova will play No. 25 seed Diana Shnaider of Russia, who defeated No. 48 McCartney Kessler of the United States, 7-6 (3), 6-1, in one hour and 36 minutes on Court 7.

• Other seeds advancing: No. 19 Madison Keys of the United States, who defeated No. 64 Antonia Ruzic of Croatia, 6-4, 6-4, in one hour and 36 minutes on Court 14; and No. 22 Anna Kalinskaya of Russia, who beat 117th-ranked Russia qualifier Alina Korneeva, 7-6 (2), 6-4, in one hour and 34 minutes on Court 6. 

• The upsets: No. 23 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium, who lost to 114th-ranked Polish qualifier Maja Chwalkinska, 6-4, 6-0, in one hour and 38 minutes on Court 12.

Thursday’s Roland-Garros results

Friday’s Roland-Garros order of play

 

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By the numbers 

Juan Manual Cerundolo is the first Argentine player to defeat a World No. 1 player since Juan Martin del Potro defeated Rafael Nadal at the 2018 US Open.

“Quotable …”

“I didn’t feel very well on court, but it can happen. I was in a good spot, also third set. I couldn’t serve it out. Then struggled quite a bit. But also, congrats to him. I don’t want to take anything away from him. He played a very solid match, especially also in the end, and that’s the sport.”

– World No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, during his post-match news conference following his five-set, second-round loss to Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina.

 

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