Jannik Sinner’s loss just last week still feels hard to believe, and remains one of the most shocking Grand Slam defeats in recent memory.
However, Aryna Sabalenka certainly gave it a good run for its money yesterday, as she conspired to somehow lose from a set and a double-break up.
These defeats saw the two world number ones exit Roland Garros in completely shocking fashion, thus blowing both the men’s and women’s draw wide open.
Toni Nadal still can’t quite wrap his head around what happened with Jannik Sinner, who held an even more commanding lead than Sabalenka before losing.
Speaking to El Pais, he has now theorised what might have happened to contribute to such a dramatic collapse.
Toni Nadal thinks he knows why Jannik Sinner lost at Roland Garros
Reviewing that second-round match, and the tournament in general so far, he admitted: “This edition will be remembered for the premature defeat of the current world number one, Italian Jannik Sinner, who, after an incomprehensible match, was eliminated by Cerundolo.
“While the Argentinian’s victory was surprising in itself, the manner in which it occurred was even more so.
Where does Jannik Sinner’s defeat to Juan Manuel Cerundolo rank among the most shocking results in tennis history?
“The Italian was leading comfortably 6-3, 6-2, 5-1, but from then on, he managed to win only two of the next eighteen games; a truly strange situation for a player of his calibre and consistency.”
Nadal then discussed possible explanations, adding: “Journalists and fans, in general, were perplexed and tried to find an explanation for what happened that day on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“Most suggested a possible case of heat exhaustion that might have left him lacking energy, but both he and his team quickly denied this.
“They probably didn’t want to expose themselves to speculation that might have suggested Sinner was weak in those kinds of weather conditions. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that a temporary physical problem seriously disrupted his game.”
Seen as Sinner claimed it wasn’t the heat that affected him straight after the match, Nadal’s theory directly challenges what came out from the player’s camp.
Jannik Sinner’s smart move after his shock early exit at Roland Garros
Whilst many have theorised that Sinner’s early exit could have been due to struggles accrued from months of relentless tennis, he has even argued that.
Although it’s impossible to deny that the decision to play Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome consecutively will have surely increased the physical toll on his body in the lead-up to Roland Garros.
So, as he now changes surface ahead of Wimbledon, the 24-year-old will be keen not to repeat this feat.
How would you solve Jannik Sinner being allowed medical treatment for cramps?
Another incident…
It’s unlikely that Sinner will face heat like what he experienced in Paris in England, fortunately.
And, perhaps more importantly, he has also already decided not to play a single warm-up event before Wimbledon.
This crucial rest time could prove pivotal in helping him defend his title, especially with Carlos Alcaraz having already withdrawn from Wimbledon due to injury.
