French Open 2026 results: Jannik Sinner ‘couldn’t find energy’ but says heat was not to blame in shock loss

Jannik Sinner said he “couldn’t find any energy” after losing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round of the French Open in one of the biggest shocks of recent years; But the world number one believed the Paris heat was not to blame.

Italy’s Sinner was the heavy favorite to win the title having dominated the men’s tour in recent months and went on a 30-match winning streak heading into Thursday’s match.

Sinner, who had lost just eight games against Clement Tabur on his Roland Garros debut, was in similarly dominant form against Cerundolo, leading 6-3 6-2 5-1 before suffering a dramatic physical setback.

The Italian worked hard on the field and after losing three consecutive matches, he called his coach and said he was “dizzy” and “wanted to vomit”.

He took a mid-game medical timeout and left the court at the end of the third and fourth sets, but was unable to regain his fitness as he fell to world No. 56 Cerundolo.

Although many players attributed their struggles on the pitch to unseasonably warm conditions in Paris, with temperatures peaking at around 34C, Sinner downplayed the impact.

“I didn’t have any energy today. This could happen. Nobody is a robot,” Sinner said.

“I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short.

“In the beginning I was hitting very cleanly, very well, and then I hit the wall.

“I started feeling dizzy. My energy was very low. I tried to serve, but I didn’t have much energy.”

Although he has dealt with extreme heat before, most notably in his third-round victory over Eliot Spizzirri at this year’s Australian Open, Sinner said this was a “totally different scenario”.

“It was hot, but not too hot. I think it was quite normal to play,” the 24-year-old player said.

“It wasn’t an issue with the heat or the weather. It was just me today, but it happens.”