Jannik Sinner’s unexpected exit from the French Open is being discussed as one of the biggest surprises in recent years. As the tournament’s field opens up, tennis experts are debating the reasons behind the Italian’s dramatic downfall. Boris Becker, however, does not believe the heat was the primary cause.
The entire nation of Italy is commiserating with their fallen ‘lonely king,’ while experts dissect the implications and new title contenders emerge. Even the day after what was arguably the most significant sporting crash at a Grand Slam tournament in recent years, Jannik Sinner remained a topic of conversation – despite the dethroned favorite having quietly departed from the French Open.
‘See you soon. Au revoir, Paris,’ Sinner posted on social media after his dream of a career Grand Slam was shattered. The world number one, who experienced a spectacular collapse during his second-round match against Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo when he was close to victory, announced he would be taking a break until his title defense at Wimbledon (starting June 29). Medical examinations are also expected.
‘I really need a break now to recover fully, both physically and mentally, to be ready to compete again,’ Sinner stated, having faced difficulties in long matches in the past. His gracious handling of this significant defeat in Paris has earned him considerable sympathy. Simultaneously, questions linger about the cause of his mental lapse.
Heat Collapse for Jannik Sinner? ‘I Can’t Believe Any of It’
The Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport wrote, ‘Sinner, the boy from the Dolomites, melted like a glacier. But one day he will be the Sun King.’ The paper featured the ‘lonely king’ on its front page, raising questions about the scheduling of his match during the midday heat. The Italian sports publication argued, ‘It’s not just about the surprising elimination of the big tournament favorite, but rather the organizers’ decision to have him play on Court Chatrier under the scorching sun.’
Boris Becker, who promptly declared Alexander Zverev as the hottest title contender in the absence of the injured Carlos Alcaraz following Zverev’s tough match against Quentin Halys on Friday evening, doubts that the heat was the reason for Sinner’s collapse. ‘He plays for two hours and suddenly starts getting cramps,’ the six-time Grand Slam champion told Eurosport. ‘I can’t believe any of it and believe that it all came from his head.’
Jannik Sinner’s Enormous Program in 2026 — and Winning Everything
Sinner’s workload in recent months has been immense, both physically and mentally. This is partly because the 24-year-old has been winning everything. He secured five Masters titles in a row this year alone, including a remarkable victory in Rome in mid-May, exactly 50 years after the last triumph by an Italian at the event, achieved by Adriano Panatta. Panatta had promptly announced his intention to present the trophy to Sinner in Paris. The pressure on the national hero has been constant.
The Corriere della Sera wrote, ‘And so Jannik, burdened by 29 matches played over 71 days on two surfaces and two continents, landed in the Bois de Boulogne.’ The newspaper added, ‘On a surface that is different from others, and with a format – best of five sets – that sometimes challenges him.’
The bitter end to Sinner’s title bid in Paris is now history, and the tournament has taken on a completely new dynamic. Among all the third-round participants, only record champion Novak Djokovic (24 titles) has previously held a Slam trophy, reopening the race for the title.