Sinner KO'd as the draw heats up

TITLE favourite Jannik Sinner dramatically succumbed to the Paris heat as his hopes of a first French Open title ended.

- BY ELEANOR CROOKS

The world number one looked to be cruising to victory over Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round at two sets and 5-1 up but his tolerance for the conditions evaporated within sight of the finish line.

Sinner won only two more games in a 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 defeat that blows the men’s tournament at Roland Garros wide open, with 39-year-old Novak Djokovic the only player left to have claimed a grand slam title.

It also means, for the first time since Djokovic’s US Open win in 2023, a major crown will be claimed by someone other than Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz.

From 5-1 in the third set and potentially a minute away from the locker room, Sinner sensationally lost 18 points in a row to trail 0-40 serving for the match a second time at 5-4.