Jannik Sinner sent shockwaves through the tennis community after crashing out of the 2026 French Open in the second round. Following the Italian’s stunning loss, Aryna Sabalenka, Frances Tiafoe, and other tennis stars shared their reactions to the unexpected result.
Sinner appeared to be cruising toward a routine win, as he held a 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in their second-round clash. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when the world No. 1 began to struggle with cramps, dizziness, and nausea. An off-court medical timeout failed to turn things around, as Cerúndolo dominated the rest of the match to pull off a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 upset.
How Aryna Sabalenka, Frances Tiafoe, and Matteo Berrettini Reacted to Jannik Sinner’s French Open Loss
Sabalenka advanced to the third round of the French Open after claiming a 7-5, 6-2 victory over home hope Elsa Jacquemot. Speaking to the press afterward, the world No. 1 said she felt terrible for Sinner and disclosed that she had been desperately hoping he would pull through, even if it meant delaying her own match.
“I felt so bad for him. I always cheer for Jannik, and to see him struggle like that was really painful to see. I was rooting till the very last moment. I was hoping for him to win. I wasn’t really thinking about my schedule. I knew that if I start later it’s okay for me. I was just worried he’s not gonna close the match. Sad for him but I’m pretty sure he’s gonna come back even stronger. Time to do some recovery, some rest, and be ready for grass court for him. But sad to see him leaving that early,” Aryna Sabalenka said.
On a more lighthearted note, Tiafoe found out about the Italian’s defeat from an enthusiastic fan during his second-round clash with Hubert Hurkacz. While appearing on the TNT Sports panel after his gritty 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-4 victory, the American humorously revealed what went through his mind when he heard about Sinner’s exit.
“It was funny. I was just saying in the press conference. I just won the third [set], I’m super pumped up and I go sit down and a lovely Black gentleman comes front row and goes, ‘Sinner is out, Big Foe is in! This is your time!’ I was like, I got a whole fourth set to play. He kept repeating it like three times. I’m like cool, but Hurkacz is really good. I don’t know where Sinner is in the draw. And then I’m serving it out, lose the set. Walking to the bathroom, I was like, ‘Well, I guess none of that matters,'” he said.
When asked whether Carlos Alcaraz’s absence and the Italian’s loss gave him extra belief about his chances at the French Open, Tiafoe candidly acknowledged that the two stars were far from the only threats to his campaign.
“I’ll be honest with you, I felt it prior because of Carlos. But at the same time, as much as I want to say I got an opportunity, a lot of guys I lose to aren’t Alcaraz and Sinner,” Tiafoe responded.
After beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, Berrettini opened up to the press about the heartwarming exchange he shared with Sinner following the latter’s loss.
“Of course I’ve seen what happened to Jannik, which is really unfortunate. I’ve seen him before he was leaving and I told him to get back as soon as possible. He told me good luck. I also saw in his press conference he was as always really focused and sure about what he was saying, what happened,” he said.
Berrettini further praised the four-time Grand Slam champion for the admirable way he handled the difficult moment and backed him to make a strong return after the setback.
“It’s part of the sport that we do. What happened to him is not that rare. It happened to a lot of players. What he’s done in the last weeks never happened. That is unbelievable. Today happening, I’m sure he’s gonna be back on track and he’s gonna show again the great champion. One more thing, he handled the situation in a really nice way. I think he didn’t even say anything, you know, he was just trying. I think that’s also what makes him a great champion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Martín Landaluce, who would’ve faced Sinner in the third round, simply couldn’t believe his ears when he learned about the Italian’s loss.
“Holy sh*t! as he withdrawn? Has he lost?” Landaluce asked.
MORE: ‘We Knew After He Won’ – Jannik Sinner’s Coach Shuts Down French Open Schedule Favoritism Claims
Although Jannik Sinner’s campaign has come to an end, Aryna Sabalenka will continue her hunt for her maiden French Open title against Daria Kasatkina in the third round. On the men’s side, Frances Tiafoe will lock horns with Jaime Faria, while Matteo Berrettini is set to take on Francisco Comesaña. Meanwhile, Landaluce will face Sinner’s conqueror, Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.
