World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the French Open in a second-round upset by Juan Manuel Cerúndolo on Thursday [4].

The defeat marks a significant disruption to the tournament bracket and the rankings race, as the top seed exited unexpectedly early in the competition.

The match took place on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland-Garros in Paris. Cerúndolo, who is ranked 56th [3], defeated Sinner in a five-set match with a final score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 [2].

Sinner struggled throughout the encounter due to extreme heat and reported low energy and illness [5]. The physical toll became evident in the closing stages of the match, where the World No. 1 won only two of the final 20 games [1].

Cerúndolo capitalized on Sinner's declining physical condition to secure the comeback victory. While Sinner controlled the early stages of the match, the Argentine shifted the momentum starting in the third set, eventually dominating the final two sets to close out the match.

The loss is one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 tournament, as Sinner entered the event as the favorite. The combination of the oppressive weather and health concerns proved insurmountable for the top seed during the second-round clash.

“World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was eliminated from the French Open in a second-round upset.”

Sinner's early exit opens the field for other contenders and highlights the volatile impact of environmental conditions on elite athlete performance. The loss of the top seed in the second round creates a power vacuum in the draw, potentially clearing a path for lower-seeded players to advance deeper into the tournament than expected.