Jannik Sinner's preparation questioned by experts after 'one of the biggest upsets in many years' in shock French Open collapse

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TNT Sports expert Tim Henman said Jannik Sinner's second-round exit at the French Open is "one of the biggest upsets in Grand Slams for many, many years."

Watch sad scenes as Sinner unable to run for anything in Roland-Garros nightmare

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The World No. 1, who had won 30 matches in succession and was the firm favourite to win the Roland-Garros title, was dominant as he romped to a two-set lead and 5-1 advantage against Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Court Philippe-Chatrier, serving for the match.

But, seemingly from nowhere, physical issues hampered Sinner to the point he could barely move on the main show court in Paris, and he crumbled in the searing Paris heat thereafter.

He failed to win a single point in a four-game period which saw Cerundolo level the third set, and was afforded the opportunity to recuperate with a medical assessment which caused a delay of a few minutes.

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Cerundolo won the fourth and deciding sets 6-1 each to claim his first-ever victory over a top-10 opponent, an unfathomable outcome earlier in the match.

"One of the biggest upsets in Grand Slams for many, many years," Henman said. "Two sets to one up, 5-1 in the third set, absolute cruise control.

"Sinner's been beating everyone for months, hasn't looked like losing and, then, what's that, 18 of the next 20 games, Cerundolo takes? Phenomenal."

Watch huge shock as Sinner loses to Cerundolo - 'We'll remember this for a long time'

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Henri Leconte, meanwhile, suggested Sinner took on too many events before the French Open, having competed - and won - all the prior ATP 1000 tournaments.

"It seems outrageous," Leconte said. "Yes, but I think the problem is, he's been playing so well but maybe playing too much.

"So it just came at the French Open, with a little bit, not enough energy, and that's what happened today.

"It's really hot, but you also have to say that Cerundolo played unbelievable at the end. Definitely. He was so solid, was so solid, but, of course, it's a big surprise, and now we have an open door."

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander expressed his "complete shock" over the outcome, and compared Sinner's physical deterioration to that which saw him suffer a scare against Eliot Spizzirri at the Australian Open, which the Italian was eventually able to recover from in order to win the match.

"It’s just a complete shock to everybody," Wilander said. "I’m shocked that this happened. He was winning easily and then suddenly the weather takes out the biggest favourite, the guy that can complete the career Grand Slam, hasn’t lost in 30 matches.

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"He never found the second gear and that’s what he did in Australia, when it happened. He got cramps and they had to put the roof on because the heat rule was in effect.

"He got himself together again. I thought he was going to walk it off and be ready to play the fifth set, but clearly he was not ready to play at all. You just can’t play the way he was feeling."

Henman, though, was keen to highlight how Cerundolo astutely dealt with his wilting opponent.

He said: "We're talking a lot about the fatigue of Sinner but the way Cerundolo stayed in the rallies, when he was under pressure he used the moonball to give himself time, and when he got the opportunities he was using that leftie forehand. Sinner was out on his feet."

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Henman added: "It's not like Sinner's had a bad day at the office because of his tennis. He was up two sets to love, 5-1. The finish line is right there.

"But we have seen and understand Sinner's five-set record. Once he gets past three-and-a-half hours, he struggles. Once he gets in the heat, he struggles. That's exactly what has happened. It's taken everyone by surprise."

Sinner's exit has blown the men's draw wide open, with Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev among the favourites to capitalise. With Carlos Alcaraz's absence in Paris, the Roland-Garros final is set to be without either of the current men's top two for the first time since the US Open in 2023.

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