Frances Tiafoe Admits Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are Not the Only Threats to His Campaign After Italian’s Roland Garros Exit

Jannik Sinner sent shockwaves across the tennis community on Thursday (May 28th) as, in spite of a two-set lead and just a game away from an easy second-round win, he failed to get over the line against Juan Manuel Cerundolo. At 5-1 in the third set, his body was hit by severe cramps.

He was surprisingly allowed a medical timeout at 5-4, 0-40, and this once again started debate about top players being given preferential treatment. Sinner did not recover from whatever he was suffering, and at the end, with scores of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, he walked out of the Philippe-Chatrier for the last time this season.

Frances Tiafoe heard about Sinner’s defeat from a fan in the stands of Court 14 when he was in a five-set duel against Hubert Hurkacz in the second round. He recounted after his 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-4 win the thoughts that ran through his mind when he heard about the four-time Grand Slam champion’s exit.

It was funny. I was just saying in the press conference. I just won the third [set], I’m super pumped up, and I go sit down, and a lovely Black gentleman comes front row and goes, ‘Sinner is out, Big Foe is in! This is your time!’ I was like, I got a whole fourth set to play. He kept repeating it like three times. I’m like, cool, but Hurkacz is really good. I don’t know where Sinner is in the draw. And then I’m serving it out, lose the set. Walking to the bathroom, I was like, ‘Well, I guess none of that matters.’

Frances Tiafoe told TNT Sports

As two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is also not playing, Sinner’s defeat has opened up the draw a bit. When Tiafoe was asked whether he thought he could win a Major now that the French Open is without both Alcaraz and Sinner, the American made a humorous confession, trolling himself.

I’ll be honest with you, I felt it prior because of Carlos. But at the same time, as much as I want to say I got an opportunity, a lot of guys I lose to aren’t Alcaraz and Sinner.

Frances Tiafoe added

Big Foe is set to face Jaime Faria next. The two-time Grand Slam semifinalist is a one-time quarterfinalist at the French Open, reaching that stage last year.

Mats Wilander on Jannik Sinner’s next tournament

What’s next for Jannik Sinner? He has already confirmed that he won’t be playing the Halle Open, a warm-up tournament on grass before Wimbledon, which he won in 2024. Mats Wilander, during the TNT Sports post-match segment, also asked the same question.

Now he’s gone, I’m not sure where he goes from here. He has to address this situation because it keeps happening a little too often. I don’t know if there’s anything you can do for cramps, if there is something in your diet, I have no idea. But something needs to happen for him, for sure.

At Wimbledon last year, Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets, taking revenge for his French Open defeat. The seven-time Grand Slam champion will be skipping the grass-court Major as well due to his wrist injury.

Before arriving in Paris, Sinner lifted the first five Masters 1000s of the season, becoming the first man to do so. His win in Rome made him the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the Career Golden Masters.

Many are questioning Sinner’s decision to play both in Madrid and Rome and not taking much rest, saying fatigue led to his exit in a tournament where the victory would matter the most.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Channels Inner Michael Jackson at Roland Garros to Challenge Dance Rival Aryna Sabalenka