French Open: Juan Manuel Cerundolo stuns World No. 1 Jannik Sinner to advance in R3
Paris, May 28
Juan Manuel Cerundolo produced a stunning comeback at Roland Garros on Thursday, rallying from two sets down to stun World No. 1 Jannik Sinner 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 and end the Italian's bid for a Career Grand Slam dramatically.
Sinner looked firmly in control of his second-round clash at Roland Garros after racing to a 5-1 lead in the third set, but the match turned dramatically as the World No. 1 began to struggle physically.
The 24-year-old Italian failed twice to serve out the contest and even required an off-court medical timeout at 5-4, 0/40, as per the ATP Tour website.
Sensing the shift in momentum, Juan Manuel Cerundolo raised his level brilliantly, overwhelming Sinner to win 18 of the final 20 games and complete one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 season.
Ranked World No. 56, the Argentine also became the first player since Karol Kucera in 2000 to eliminate the top seed at the French Open before the third round.
With Roland Garros the only Grand Slam missing from his collection, Sinner was aiming to become just the seventh man to complete the Career Grand Slam in the Open Era.
The Italian had also entered the tournament on a career-best 30-match winning streak, having remarkably captured all five ATP Masters 1000 titles in 2026 before his shock defeat at Roland Garros.
The defeat adds another painful chapter on Court Philippe-Chatrier for Sinner, who last year heartbreakingly squandered three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final.
Sinner and Alcaraz have dominated men's tennis, sharing the last nine Grand Slam titles between them.
However, with Sinner now eliminated from the French Open and Alcaraz sidelined due to a wrist injury, the door is wide open for a first-time major champion since the Australian Open in 2024.
Cerundolo, who is in the third round of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career, will next face Spaniard Martin Landaluce or Czech player Vit Kopriva.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is why I love Grand Slams—you never know what will happen. Sinner was cruising at 5-1 in the third set, and suddenly it all fell apart. Cerundolo's comeback was unreal, winning 18 of the last 20 games! With Alcaraz also out, the draw is wide open now. Could we see a surprise champion this year? 🤔
Heartbreaking for Sinner, especially after last year's final heartbreak. He was so close to completing the Career Grand Slam. But credit to Cerundolo—he didn't give up when down, and that's the spirit of tennis. The physical toll of playing so many matches must have caught up with Sinner. Respect for both players.
As a tennis fan, this is bittersweet. Sinner dominated the whole year, but his body let him down at the biggest stage. Cerundolo played brilliantly in the last two sets—his aggression was too much. But I do feel the medical timeout at 5-4 disrupted Sinner's rhythm completely. Is that fair? 🤔
Unbelievable! Sinner was on a 30-match winning streak and looked unbeatable. But health issues can hit anyone. Cerundolo played the match of his life—18 of the last 20 games is just insane. Now the French Open is wide open. Maybe we'll see a new champion from India someday? Keep dreaming! 😄
Great performance by Cerundolo, but I feel a bit disappointed for
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