Jannik Sinner conqueror shows true colours after French Open victory | Tennis | Sport

Juan Manuel Cerundolo admitted he was ‘a little bit lucky’ after he became the player to end Jannik Sinner’s 30-match unbeaten run. The world No.1 had taken the first two sets 6-3, 6-2 against Cerundolo and looked to be in cruise control at 5-1 in the third, with a place in the third round well within his grasp.

However, 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 Novak Djokovic the only player left to have claimed a grand slam title.

And speaking after claiming the result of his life, Cerundolo admitted: “It’s tough for him, he was leading the match and I couldn’t win more than three games in a set.

“I was a little bit lucky and I feel sorry for him, he was serving to win the match. Then I don’t know what happened, I think he was cramping. Of course I feel sorry for him and I hope he recovers.”

On reaching the third round at a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, the Argentinian said: “I’m super happy, I will try to keep playing my best. I like to play this tournament because clay is my best surface and I hope to be ready for the next match.”

Sinner was attended to by medical staff and was allowed to leave court during the match after saying he felt sick to have his condition assessed and blood pressure taken before returning and losing three more games and the set.

By the time the match was over, though, the Italian was so drained he struggled to make his way off the court and back to the locker rooms.

“I struggled and started to feel very dizzy, very low on energy,” Sinner said. “I tried to serve it out but didn’t have a lot of energy. In the fourth set, I let it go a little bit trying to have a bit more energy in the fifth. The first one was a very important game and I couldn’t hold.

“Then it went a bit downwards. I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short. Also in the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall, and that’s it.”

Asked when he started to feel things began feeling difficult in the match, the Italian said: “The middle of the third set, even though I was playing some great tennis, but I really couldn’t find any energy today.

“It was a tough spot to be in. But, again, this is the sport. It was warm but not crazy warm. I feel like it was quite OK to play. Really it was nothing against the heat, nothing against the weather. It was just me today, but it happens.”