The earthquake struck Court Philippe-Chatrier on a scorching Parisian afternoon. Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 and overwhelming tournament favourite, was eliminated in the second round of Roland-Garros by Juan Manuel Cerundolo, ranked 56th, with a score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.
The Italian was cruising at two sets to love and 5-1 up in the third. He served for the match twice, at 5-2 and 5-4, without winning a single point in either game. The oppressive Parisian heat, with temperatures reaching 91°F, destroyed his body. Cramps seized his legs, and his serve speed dropped by roughly 15 km/h from his usual standards.
Cerundolo seized the moment with remarkable composure. The Argentine won 18 of the final 20 games, turning a desperate rescue mission into a historic triumph. He becomes the lowest-ranked player to defeat a world No. 1 from two sets down at a Grand Slam since 1973.
For Sinner, it marks the brutal end of a 30-match winning streak stretching back to February. The Italian leaves Paris with a 37-3 record in 2026, but this premature exit completely reshuffles the men's draw.
The shockwave extends far beyond the scoreline. It is the first time since Karol Kucera in 2000 that the top seed has been eliminated before the third round at Roland-Garros. and now inherit the favourite's mantle in a wide-open half of the draw.
