<p>Sinner, the red-hot favourite at Roland Garros, appeared to be cruising to victory, holding a two-set lead and a commanding 5–1 advantage in the third, before suddenly taking a turn for the worse.</p><p>The Italian complained of dehydration and dizziness, saying he felt as though he might vomit, and was visibly struggling as temperatures once again climbed above 30 degrees during a record-breaking heatwave in France.</p><p><strong>Sinner suddenly looked a shadow of himself, and an inspired Cerundolo seized his chance to pull off an improbable comeback, prevailing 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1.</strong></p><p>Sinner arrived in Paris on the back of winning all three of the clay-court Masters titles, with his odds of completing a career Grand Slam enhanced further by the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz.</p><p>Instead, the 24-year-old suffered his earliest exit at a major since losing at the same stage of the French Open in 2023.</p><p><strong>"It's tough for him (Sinner). I think I was a little bit lucky,"</strong> said Cerundolo, who goes on to play Martin Landaluce or Vit Kopriva in the last 32.</p><p><strong>"I feel sorry for him. He was deserving to win, and then I don't know what happened to him. Maybe cramping, maybe the pressure, but I hope he recovers."</strong></p><p>It was another bitterly disappointing ending at Roland Garros for last year's runner-up, who held three championship points 12 months ago before losing to Alcaraz.</p><p>There were few signs of what was to come as Sinner sailed through the first two sets, picking up where he left off after a typically efficient opening-round win.</p><p><strong>But the wheels began to come off with the finish line in sight.</strong></p><p>Sinner left Court Philippe Chatrier to receive medical treatment while serving for the match at 5-4, albeit 0-40 down. He returned minutes later, but Cerundolo sensed his opportunity against an ailing opponent.</p><p>The Argentine won 18 consecutive points as he clawed his way back from the brink, breaking Sinner three times in a row to send the match to a fourth set.</p><p>Sinner, hunched over periodically in the shade at the back of the court between rallies, earned three break points early in the fourth but couldn't capitalise.</p><p>Cerundolo, the world number 56 with just two Grand Slam match wins before this tournament, took advantage and broke twice more to run away with the set and force a decider.</p><p>The Buenos Aires native didn't blink as Sinner tried to gamely hang on, Cerundolo putting away the struggling top seed for the biggest win of his career.</p><p>"I'm super happy," said Cerundolo. <strong>"I'm going to keep trying to play my best. It's a tournament I really like to play, clay is my best surface."</strong></p><p><strong>Click here for more on the match.</strong></p>