Jannik Sinner’s early departure from Roland Garros caught many by surprise.
The world number one fell in the second round of the French Open, losing in five sets to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, while dealing with physical issues. Sinner had been leading by two sets and 5-1 before his play dipped noticeably as he struggled with the heat.
Afterwards, Sinner said he’d felt dizzy and hadn’t been well since earlier that morning. Greg Rusedski questioned why organisers chose to schedule the top seed during the daytime session on Philippe Chatrier, especially considering how demanding those matches can be.
Sinner withdrew from last year’s tournament due to a hip injury, and this latest exit adds to what’s been a difficult stretch for him at Roland Garros.
Rusedski turned pro in 1991 and reached a career-high singles ranking of world number four. He finished his career with 15 titles and over $8 million in prize money.
Greg Rusedski weighs in on Sinner’s early Roland Garros exit
On his podcast, ‘Off Court with Greg’, Rusedski said: “I was shocked when the tournament decided to put him on at midday.
“You protect the top boys. Everybody has to play an afternoon match. He can do that in the second week, when temperatures are going to be cooler.
“It’s supposed to go down to about 20 degrees. It’s not like frying an egg out there. And for Sinner, he must be devastated, because he wanted to join that exclusive group of people with Alcaraz out to win all four majors.
“So I’m gutted for him, but I wanted to see history. And it was the heat and the hot conditions that did him in.
“And I’m actually thinking to myself, that was a strange schedule, because usually in the past, you had Federer, who was protected in Australia, playing every single evening session when he was getting on in his career, just to protect the big names who really drive the TV ratings.”
Greg Rusedski says players have spotted Jannik Sinner’s weakness
Rusedski went on: “Every player in the locker room is going to see him cramping. They saw it in Shanghai, they saw it in Rome, and now they saw it in Paris. So they know to stick with him.
“Cerundolo, I also want to give credit. He won in Bordeaux, the challenger I was at with Gio. He’s like the human wall.
“He is Sinner’s worst nightmare under the heat. He gives you zero, absolutely nothing, plus he’s got that heavy topspin forehand and returns well.
“So I think the players know. I give credit to Cerundolo, but players are starting to see it. So they’re hoping, oh, can we get Sinner during the day when it’s scorching hot? That’s really the only opportunity.”
Sinner will now take some time off to prepare for Wimbledon where he will be defending his title as well as 2000 ATP points.
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