Matteo Berrettini Full of Support for Jannik Sinner After Shocking Roland Garros Exit

Matteo Berrettini has backed his compatriot Jannik Sinner to bounce back from his shocking second-round exit at the French Open. Sinner succumbed to illness and a remarkable Juan Manuel Cerundolo on Thursday (May 28), crashing out of the Grand Slam tournament and blowing the men’s singles event wide open.

The World No.1 Sinner was the favorite to win the French Open, having won three consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles in the past seven weeks. The 24-year-old was cruising to victory in his second-round match against Cerundolo when leading by two sets and 5-1 in the third set before suddenly struggling with his movement on the court.

He lost 18 points in a row, a shocking, uncharacteristic display that got the French crowd trying to lift his spirit. Sinner took a medical timeout and complained of feeling dizzy under the humid conditions at Court Philippe-Chatrier. After treatment, he returned to the court, but there was nothing he could do to stop the already confident Cerundolo.

The Argentine star crushed Sinner in the fourth and fifth sets to win the match 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1. This is the earliest exit for Sinner in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2023 French Open. Cerundolo, World No.56, now has his eye on reaching the fourth round of the event as he will take on Martin Landaluce in the third round.

However, Sinner’s loss in Paris comes after a 30-match winning streak that has seen him win the Italian Open, Madrid Open, Miami Open, Indian Wells, and Monte Carlo Masters. Speaking at his post-match press conference, Berrettini admitted that he watched his fellow countryman exit the Roland Garros disappointingly but hopes he bounces back from the loss immediately:

Of course, I saw what happened with Jannik, and sincerely, it’s a pity. I saw him before he left and simply told him to come back as soon as possible. He replied wishing me luck, and as always, he was very focused and very self-assured. What happened to him today is not so uncommon in tennis. It has happened to many players. What is truly extraordinary is what he was doing in recent weeks. That is truly incredible and very uncommon.

Sinner’s loss means that a new Grand Slam champion will emerge after two years and five months. The Italian star and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the men’s singles since 2024, but with Alcaraz injured and Sinner already out of the competition, the likes of Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud will be eyeing the title.

Matteo Berrettini seals his place in the third round of the French Open

Matteo Berrettini came out strong in his second-round match at the French Open. The Italian star faced French star and home favorite Arthur Rinderknech at the Court Philippe-Chatrier on Thursday (May 28), a late-light match that drew the French crowd. But Berrettini showed his determination on the court, earning an early break in each set.

He won the match 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round of the Roland Garros for the first time since 2021. The Italian star, who has been dealing with injuries and setbacks in the past two years, was glad to finally prove his worth on the court. He revealed during the aforementioned press conference that the win feels very special to him:

It felt very special. Even yesterday, when I knew I would be playing on the center court, I was very happy. It has been many years since the last time, and I knew perfectly well that the atmosphere would be incredible. I missed playing these kinds of matches a lot and enjoying atmospheres like this. I am truly proud of all the work I did to feel physically well again and competitive once more.

Berrettini is currently ranked outside the Top 100 on tour. The last time he won two consecutive matches on tour was at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he reached the round of 16 before losing to Joao Fonseca. He will face Argentine star Francisco Comesana for a place in the fourth round of the French Open.

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