Jannik Sinner’s surprising collapse at the French Open has drawn renewed attention to a recurring pattern in his career: heat-related struggles, cramps and illness in major matches. Two days after his second-round defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the exact cause of the breakdown remains unclear, but Sinner said he did not feel well when he woke up on match day. Playing on a sweltering Court Philippe-Chatrier during a Paris heatwave, he repeatedly used ice bags and a handheld fan, though he later insisted the heat alone was not the problem. He said several factors likely combined to create the issue and that he needed time to process what happened.
The loss was another example of Sinner’s challenges in long, physically demanding matches. It was his 12th defeat in 18 career five-set contests, underlining how often endurance and physical discomfort have shaped his biggest results.
Sinner has dealt with similar problems on several other occasions. At the Italian Open shortly before Roland Garros, he struggled against Daniil Medvedev in humid conditions, leaning on his racket in exhaustion and receiving treatment for his right thigh. He also drank cucumber juice in an effort to relieve cramps and was seen vomiting or spitting out something during the match. Despite those issues, he recovered enough to finish the contest the next day and went on to win the title in Rome.
At the Australian Open, extreme heat has repeatedly tested him. In one match against Eliot Spizzirri, Sinner was limping and stretching out cramps in his arms and legs before extreme heat rules led to the roof being closed at a crucial moment. He went on to win in four sets. In another Australian Open match, against Holger Rune in 2025, he appeared to be trembling during a changeover, needed a trainer, and had his pulse checked before continuing. He still advanced and later captured the title.
Sinner also retired from the Cincinnati Open final against Carlos Alcaraz last year after just 22 minutes because of illness in extreme heat. He said he had felt unwell since the day before and could not recover overnight. It was the first retirement in a final of his career, and Alcaraz later comforted him on court.
There was also a tough Wimbledon quarterfinal loss to Medvedev in 2024, when Sinner felt dizzy and unwell after a poor night’s sleep. He received treatment, left the court briefly, and then faded again after a short recovery.
Taken together, these matches show that Sinner’s brilliance has often been accompanied by physical setbacks, especially in hot or humid conditions at the sport’s biggest events.
