Jannik Sinner’s Sudden Exit Means Roland Garros Is Wide Open

BusinessSportsMoneyJannik Sinner’s Sudden Exit Means Roland Garros Is Wide OpenByAdam Zagoria,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I'm a basketball and tennis insiderFollow AuthorMay 28, 2026, 10:41am EDTMay 28, 2026, 10:43am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 28: Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts after loosing against Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina after the Men's Singles second round match on Day Five of the 2026 French Open at Roland Garros on May 28, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)Getty ImagesJannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have won the last nine consecutive Grand Slam singles titles.Sinner was the heavy favorite to make it 10 entering Roland Garros. In fact, he was the heaviest men’s favorite at a major since Rafael Nadal in Paris in 2009.But the world No. 1 was stricken with cramps and took what Jim Courier called an “illegal medical timeout” during the third set of his eventual 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 loss to Juan Martin Cerundolo in the second round.Sinner had won 30 straight matches and five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles, and his exit means the draw is now wide open.“It’s hard to express how big of an upset this would be, a seismic event in the draw,” Courier said on TNT as the match was ending. “There would be a very unexpected finalist if Sinner goes out.”No. 2 Alexander Zverev is 0-3 in major finals and is seeking his first major title.No. 3 Novak Djokovic is bidding for a record 25th major title.They are both in the bottom half of the draw, and would have had to potentially face Sinner in the final.American No. 5 seed Ben Shelton is in the top half of the draw.MORE FOR YOU“If I’m not mistaken, the only guy left in the draw whose won a major is the guy whose won 24 of them,” Courier said of Djokovic.Sinner had been the heaviest favorite in a men’s major sinc...