PARIS, MAY 28 (IANS): Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo produced one of the biggest shocks of the French Open 2026, defeating World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a dramatic second-round clash at Stade Roland Garros. Cerundolo, ranked 56th, rallied from two sets down to win 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, ending Sinner’s bid to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Sinner appeared in full control, racing to a two-set lead and holding a 5-1 advantage in the third. However, the Italian began to struggle with cramp, twice failing to serve out the match and requiring a medical timeout. From that point, Cerundolo seized momentum, winning 18 of the final 20 games to secure his first third-round appearance at a Grand Slam.
The defeat is a major setback for Sinner, who had been riding a career-best 30-match winning streak and had swept all five ATP Masters 1000 titles earlier this season. Roland Garros remains the only missing piece in his Grand Slam collection, and his exit recalls last year’s heartbreak when he squandered championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Despite flashes of brilliance, his restricted movement allowed Cerundolo to exploit openings with drop shots and wide angles.
Sinner departs Paris with a 37-3 record in 2026, but his loss opens the door for a new champion. With Alcaraz sidelined by injury, Roland Garros is set for its most unpredictable men’s draw in years. Cerundolo will next face either Spain’s Martin Landaluce or Czech player Vit Kopriva as he continues his breakthrough run.
Osaka Brushes Past Vekic to enter Round 3
Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of Roland Garros with a hard-fought 7-6(1), 6-4 victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic in nearly two hours of intense baseline exchanges at Court Simonne-Mathieu. The four-time Grand Slam champion, returning to form on clay, showed resilience in a tight first set before dominating the tie-break. She maintained composure in the second, securing her best Paris performance since 2019.
Osaka’s improved movement and patience on clay underline her growing confidence, marking only her fourth third-round appearance at the French Open. Her striking fashion choice—a layered white skirt over a sparkling dress—also drew attention as she entered the court. She now faces 18-year-old American Iva Jovic in a compelling third-round clash between two players at contrasting career stages.
Jovic delivered one of the day’s most emphatic wins, dismantling 25th seed Emma Navarro 6-0, 6-3 in just 78 minutes. The teenager’s aggressive returns and relentless baseline play overwhelmed Navarro, avenging her loss to the same opponent in Strasbourg just a week earlier. Jovic’s breakthrough season continues, having already reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The Osaka-Jovic encounter promises to be one of the highlights of the women’s draw. The winner is expected to meet World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round, provided the top seed advances through her section. For Osaka, it is a chance to reaffirm her comeback; for Jovic, it is an opportunity to announce herself as a rising force on the Grand Slam stage.