World number one Jannik Sinner has crashed out of the French Open in the second round following a five set defeat to Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The Italian was the hot favourite to claim his maiden French Open crown after his arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a wrist injury and Sinner was in emphatic form prior to his visit to the French capital.
Sinner had won 37 of 39 matches in 2026 and had not lost since a defeat by Jakub Mensik in Doha in mid-February, securing five consecutive ATP titles at the Indian Wells Masters, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, Madrid Open and Italian Open.
It appeared to be business as usual in his match against Cerundolo as Sinner cantered to the opening two sets. The 24-year-old held a 5-2 lead in the third when he started to struggle with the scorching conditions in Paris.
He subsequently lost five games in succession to surrender the third set and appeared in visible discomfort as Cerundolo stole a march in the fourth set, breaking Sinner's serve twice in a 6-1 procession.
Cerundolo carried his momentum into the deciding set with two breaks of serve to win nine games in a row and open up a 4-0 lead in the fifth. Sinner managed to get one game on the board, but Cerundolo was untroubled and eventually triumphed 6-3 6-2 5-7 1-6 1-6.
After the match, Cerundolo said: "It's tough for him, he was leading the match and I couldn't win more than three games in a set.
"I was a little bit lucky and I feel sorry for him, he was serving to win the match. Then I don't know what happened, I think he was cramping. Of course I feel sorry for him and I hope he recovers."
Who are the favourites to win the men's French Open?
Sinner's elimination has blown the men's draw wide open.
Of the remaining competitors, only Novak Djokovic has won a Grand Slam title, and the Serbian may not get a better opportunity to achieve the 25th major he so desperately craves.
Alexander Zverev has moved to the head of the betting as he seeks his first-ever Grand Slam title.
The German has endured three agonising final defeats at the 2020 US Open, 2024 French Open and last year's Australian Open. His loss in the Roland Garros showpiece was arguably his most torturous, leading Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one before falling surrendering the last two sets.
Casper Ruud is prominent in the betting as he looks to go one better than his two final appearances at the French Open in 2022 and 2023.
Francisco Cerundolo, the older brother of Juan Manuel, has never gone further than the fourth round of a Grand Slam but is among the favourites to seal his first major title, while the prodigious Rafael Jodar is taking the French Open by storm in his debut appearance.
(Odds will display when markets are available).
All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
