Unexpected French Open
Sinner and Sabalenka's French Open Exits Lead to Unexpected Tournament Turns
The 2026 French Open has been turned upside down by the stunning early exits of its two biggest favorites. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner's 30-match winning streak ended in a second-round collapse, while fellow No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka blew a near-certain quarterfinal win to fall out of the tournament in one of the most dramatic implosions in recent memory, according to AP News.
The chaos has guaranteed first-time Grand Slam champions in both the men's and women's draws — the first time that has happened at Roland-Garros in the Open Era, Mirror Sport reported. The women's final features Mirra Andreeva against Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska, only the second qualifier ever to reach the women's semifinals at a major.
Sinner's 30-Match Streak Dies in Paris Heat
Sinner arrived in Paris as the heavy favorite to win his first French Open title. He had not lost a match in nearly three months. But in the second round on May 28, Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo — ranked outside the top 50 — came back from two sets down to beat the Italian in five sets, according to The Tennis Pass. It was the biggest win of Cerundolo's career.
After the match, Sinner said he felt "dizzy and unwell" and had felt "off" from the morning. He insisted the Paris heat was not to blame. The Tennis Pass noted that experts raised concern over a possible virus or systemic illness, rather than a simple loss of form. The defeat ended one of the longest winning streaks in men's tennis this decade.
Sabalenka Leads 6-3, 4-1 — Then Loses 10 Straight Games
Aryna Sabalenka's quarterfinal collapse on June 3 was even harder to explain. She led 6-3, 4-1 against 25th-seeded Diana Shnaider. Then she lost 12 of the final 13 games. The final score was 3-6, 7-5, 6-0. Shnaider, a 22-year-old Russian lefty, won 10 consecutive games to close out the match, Sky Sports reported.
A tearful Sabalenka said after the match that she felt like she was in a "very deep, deep, dark hole" and even said, "I want to quit tennis," according to Fox Sports. She also blamed the wind on Court Philippe-Chatrier, saying the roof should have been closed. But analysts at Defector pushed back, calling it a "spiritual vanishing" and her "worst meltdown ever."
Top Seeds Wiped Out, Outsiders Move In
The women's semifinals proceeded without any of the top four seeds — Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, or Rybakina. On the men's side, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz had already withdrawn before the tournament began. That left a wide-open draw. Matteo Berrettini, ranked 105th in the world, reached the men's quarterfinals — the lowest-ranked player to do so since 2007, according to ABS-CBN News.
Shnaider said she stayed "focused on one point at a time" as Sabalenka began to unravel. Chwalinska, who came through qualifying just to enter the main draw, is now one match away from a Grand Slam title. Mirror Sport called this French Open "one for the history books."
What These Meltdowns Mean for the Grass-Court Season
Neither Sinner nor Sabalenka will add Roland-Garros to their trophy cabinet this year. Both players keep their top rankings because of strong earlier results. But their aura of invincibility is gone heading into Wimbledon. Analysts noted that Sabalenka's collapse echoes her 2025 French Open final loss to Coco Gauff, where mental fragility cost her a title she was close to winning, Defector reported.
For Sinner, the bigger concern may be physical. His health issues in Paris raised questions about whether he can return to full form quickly on grass. The Tennis Pass suggested the dizziness points to something beyond nerves or pressure — and that his medical team will need answers before Wimbledon begins.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
9
Articles
9
Reach
9
