'Not a robot' - Sinner had 'no energy' in shock defeat

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: 'Not a robot' - Sinner had 'no energy' in shock defeatImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Only three players had taken a set off Jannik Sinner on clay in 2026 prior to his French Open lossByElizabeth BotcherbyBBC Sport journalistPublished28 May 2026, 19:29 BSTUpdated 1 hour agoJannik Sinner says he "could not find any energy" as he lost in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in one of the biggest French Open shocks in recent years - but the world number one did not believe the Paris heat was to blame. Italy's Sinner was the heavy favourite for the title, having dominated the men's tour in recent months, and was on a 30-match winning streak going into Thursday's match. After dropping just eight games in his Roland Garros opener against Clement Tabur, Sinner was in similarly commanding form against Cerundolo, leading 6-3 6-2 5-1 before suffering a dramatic physical downturn.

The Italian laboured around the court and lost three successive games before calling for the trainer, saying he felt "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 could not regain his fitness as he fell to world number 56 Cerundolo. Although several players have attributed their on-court struggles to the unseasonably hot conditions in Paris, with temperatures peaking around 34C, Sinner downplayed the impact.

The Details

"I had no energy today. Nobody is a robot," Sinner said. "I woke up this morning, didn't feel very well and tried to keep points very short.

"In the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just hit a wall. "I started feeling dizzy. I tried to serve it out but I didn't have a lot of energy.

"Although he has previously struggled in extreme heat, most notably in his third-round win over Eliot Spizzirri at this year's Australian Open, Sinner said this was "a completely different scenario". "It was warm, but not crazy warm. I feel like it was quite OK to play," the 24-year-old said.

What Experts Say

"It was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens. "Hampered Sinner out in second round in seismic shock Published5 hours agoTiafoe gets racquet back after Instagram plea Published41 minutes agoFrench Open Daily: Sinner shock exit & Serena return?

Another fifth-set struggle for SinnerImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, After taking a 5-1 lead in the third set, Sinner lost 24 of the next 27 pointsThis is the first time since the 2023 French Open that Sinner has failed to reach the second week of a Grand Slam, and only the third time in that period that he has not reached at least the semi-finals. He had won his only previous meeting with Cerundolo - a straight-set victory at Wimbledon in 2023 - and the Argentine had previously never beaten a player inside the top 10.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.