Jannik Sinner denies heat was to blame for shock French Open exit

Jannik Sinner denied that heat was behind his stunning French Open loss and instead blamed feeling unwell.

The world number one arrived in Paris as the most overwhelming title favourite since a prime Rafael Nadal, but is leaving before the first weekend after a 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1 loss to Argentinian Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Even more shocking than the result was the manner of the loss, with Sinner apparently cruising to victory at 5-1 up in the third set only to lose 18 points in a row.

Sinner’s difficulties in hot weather are well documented, including a narrow escape at the Australian Open this year when he was saved by that tournament’s heat policy, but the 24-year-old insisted this was a different situation.

“I struggled, starting to feel very dizzy,” said Sinner. “Very low on energy. I tried to serve it out, but I didn’t have a lot of energy. I woke up this morning, didn’t feel very well and tried to keep the points very short.

“Also in the beginning I was hitting very clean, very good, and then I just kind of hit the wall, and that’s it. I really couldn’t find any energy today. It was a tough spot to be in. It was warm, but not crazy warm. I feel like it was quite OK to play.

“It was just me today, but it happens. It was not like I was dying because of the heat. I think today was a completely different scenario.

“I don’t remember the last time I felt this weak. I tried to stay there with all I had today, and this was the maximum I had.”

The trouble Sinner was in became clear in the 10th game of the third set when, trailing 0-40, he sat down on the advertising hoardings.

Controversially, umpire Aurelie Tourte came down off her chair to talk to Sinner before calling the physios onto court, at which point he was taken