The top-ranked Sinner struggled with the heat and lost to 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 after wasting a chance to serve for the match on Thursday.
Sinner was on a 30-match winning streak stretching back to February and he was widely expected to complete a career Grand Slam by taking the only big title missing in his tennis career, especially with two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz out due to an injured right wrist.
The Italian bent over on the clay court in apparent exhaustion multiple times and was hardly even running for shots as the match wore on, resorting to drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics to try and shorten the points.
He attempted to cool himself with a hand-held fan on changeovers and put bags of ice around his neck.
The temperature at the start of the match was 29 degrees Celsius and rose to 32 C.
Cerundolo didn’t celebrate too much when it was over, just producing a little wave to the crowd.
“It’s tough for him,” Cerundolo said. “I couldn’t win more than three games by set. So I think I was a little bit lucky… He was deserving to win in this match. But then I don’t know what happened… I feel sorry for him and hope he recovers.”
Sinner was serving for the match in the third set at 5-4, 0-40 when he bent over on the court and then walked to his chair.
He asked for assistance and left the court. His entire light blue outfit was soaked through with sweat.
After losing the set 7-5, Sinner received medical attention and left the court. Minerals were added to his drink when he returned but Sinner wasn’t able to recuperate.
Sinner also struggled in the heat at the Australian Open against Eliot Spizzirri in January. The roof was closed and the third-round match swung his way.
Sinner last lost on February19 in the Qatar Open quarterfinals. He had won five straight Masters titles and hardly dropped a set.
On the same Court Philippe Chatrier last year, Sinner wasted three match points against Alcaraz and lost an epic final. (AP)
