Jannik Sinner heads into this year’s Roland Garros as the overwhelming favourite.
In fact, it’s hard to remember a tournament on the men’s or women’s side that has ever felt so foregone before the event has even begun.
Already, many are pencilling the Italian into the final and onto the trophy, with Carlos Alcaraz’s absence through injury leaving nobody to oppose him.
However, there must be belief that Jannik Sinner is not unstoppable.
Fortunately, those who are set to play him in the first week could be handed a huge boost in their efforts to cause an almighty upset.
Jannik Sinner could struggle at Roland Garros due to the weather
The reason behind this is the latest weather forecast.
According to Google Weather, the start of the tournament is set to be one of the most blistering in recent memory.
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On Sunday, when the event gets underway, there is expected to be highs of 33°C, rising slowly throughout the first week and peaking at 35°C by Friday.
Given Sinner has historically struggled in the heat, with cramps and breathing issues common, it could present a perfect opportunity for a lesser player to claim the ultimate scalp.
Jannik Sinner’s recent struggles in heat
There have been plenty of examples of Sinner struggling due to the climate, as it has happened twice already this year.
The first came in Melbourne, where the world number one looked on the ropes against Elliott Spizzirri, having lost the first set. He then fell down a break in the third set, with the scores tied, but was handed a huge slice of fortune when a timely break was called due to extreme heat.
Play was suspended, the roof was closed, and when they returned, Sinner won in four sets, having battled through intense cramps.
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Daniil Medvedev wasn't happy!
More recently, against Daniil Medvedev in Rome, he again seemed to be struggling, and was pictured throwing up in the corner of the court before he battled back to win in three sets.
Last year, Sinner actually had to retire from his match in Shanghai against Tallon Griekspoor because of cramps caused by the conditions, and in Wimbledon 2024, he looked visibly ill as he lost to Medvedev in a five-set thriller.
For all his talents, the Italian seems to struggle in the heat.
He could be in serious danger of an early exit if he does not perform well enough to get these early Roland Garros matches finished quickly.
