Jannik Sinner started struggling while leading in the third set (Image: TNT Sports)
Jannik Sinner has sparked huge concerns after suffering a sudden collapse during his second-round match at the French Open. The top seed led Juan Manuel Cerundolo by two-sets-to-love and 5-1 in the third set. But he started to struggle and lost 15 points in a row to get to 5-4 0-40, facing three break points.
Sinner walked to the side of the court and appeared to be grabbing his leg and hip. He could barely move, and the umpire joined him on court. The Italian was heard saying he felt sick, and went to sit at his bench. The trainer came out, and Sinner then left the court with him.
The world No. 1 had already been broken once while serving for victory, and withered away as the third set went on. At the changeover before he served for the match again at 5-4, he was seen rubbing his own thighs.
And things got worse as the game started. Sinner could barely run to balls and sat on the advertising boards on the side of the court while facing three break points.
Aurelie Tourte got off her chair and came over. Supervisor Nacho Forcadell could be seen standing at the side of the court as the trainer came out.
“I don’t feel well, I feel like I’m going to throw up,” Sinner was heard telling the physio. The Italian left the court with him for treatment while Cerundolo waited at his bench. Tourte told the Argentine that Sinner was having his blood pressure taken and they were waiting for the assessment to finish.
Sinner eventually returned to continue the game. “There were 10 minutes between points, Sinner’s had 10 minutes to try to sort himself out. Had his blood pressure taken. He is hanging on here,” Nick Mullins told TNT Sports viewers.
Jannik Sinner left the court mid-game (Image: TNT Sports)
“I think Sinner’s on the brink here. He was looking at his box, he was twisting at the hips. It’s clearly a question of whether Sinner thinks this might just be a temporary thing, and if he loses this, he’s still got a lot of time to win this match. But if it’s a permanent thing…”
The four-time Major champion was broken when the match resumed, and Cerundolo extended his stretch of consecutive points won to 18, before Sinner finally got something on the board. But the 24-year-old still couldn’t move around the court, barely chasing down balls while his team looked on with concern.
Sinner was broken again to lose the set 7-5 and then left the court. Players are able to take comfort breaks to use the toilet or change their clothes at the end of a set, and the Italian no doubt needed to use every single minute to recover and find some energy.
He took some tablets during a changeover as the fourth set got underway, and then got broken to trail 1-3. Sinner failed to capitalise on some break points early in set four and started cramping as the set went on. He appeared to have a fizzy drink during a changeover and then lost the fourth 6-1 as Cerundolo forced a decider.
Sinner used a handheld fan to cool himself down using the changeover before the fifth set.
EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy