Jannik Sinner suffered one of the most shocking defeats of his career at the 2026 French Open, losing to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round. The Italian star initially appeared in full control, winning the first two sets comfortably and standing just a few points from victory in the third set. However, the World No. 1 suddenly lost momentum under the intense Paris heat and eventually crashed out in five sets.
Becker Highlights Mental Pressure
Former tennis legend Boris Becker believes the defeat was not solely due to physical problems. Becker suggested that mental pressure played a major role in Sinner's collapse. The German great pointed to Sinner's poor sleep, emotional pressure, and exhausting schedule as possible reasons behind the dramatic turnaround. Sinner later admitted he had struggled physically during the match, but Becker feels the issue went much deeper than illness or weather conditions alone.
Mental Exhaustion After Intense Schedule
Boris Becker questioned Jannik Sinner's mental strength after the dramatic French Open defeat. He said he found it difficult to believe that the collapse was purely physical. According to Becker, Sinner may have been mentally exhausted after months of constant competition and expectations. The former Wimbledon champion explained that when players overthink or feel too much pressure, it can affect sleep, concentration, and performance on court. He also described the defeat as one of the biggest surprises or upsets seen at a Grand Slam in recent years.
Becker noted that Sinner had entered Roland Garros in incredible form after winning titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. Because of that dominance, many fans believed he was almost unbeatable heading into Paris. However, long and intense matches at major tournaments have sometimes exposed weaknesses in Sinner's game. Becker suggested that difficult weather conditions and physical tiredness may have increased the pressure during the match against Cerundolo. He added that Sinner had been travelling and competing continuously since March, which may have finally caught up with him.
Despite the painful loss, Becker praised Sinner for taking responsibility instead of blaming external conditions. He felt the Italian simply ran out of energy after weeks of maintaining an extremely high level. Becker concluded that even the best players can experience difficult days after carrying heavy mental and physical demands for a long period.
