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Jannik Sinner image leaves Roland Garros shook after wild scenes

The tennis world can't believe what unfolded to rock the tournament.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Jannik Sinner disappointed and Sinner hitting an overhead smash.
Jannik Sinner (pictured) has suffered one of the worst collapses of his career having dropped multiple match points to leave the French Open draw wide open. (Images: Getty Images/Twitter)

Jannik Sinner has suffered one of the worst collapses of his career having lost to Daniel Altmaier after four match point opportunities, which leaves one side of the Roland Garros draw wide open. Sinner entered Paris as one of the favourites having been drawn on the opposite side of Carloz Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

Daniil Medvedev's shock exit in the first round also left the door open for the Italian to make a deep run. But it was not to be after Sinner lost to the German 6-7, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 7-5 in a more than five-hour epic.

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The match was the fifth longest in French Open history and left both players utterly exhausted. However, Sinner admitted he put too much pressure on himself heading into this grand slam and it showed after one incredible miss on match point summed up the loss.

At 5-4 and match point, Sinner forced Altmaier to loop a ball high to give the Italian an overhead smash to win the match in the fourth set. Although nerves clearly got the usually cool, calm and collected Sinner as he clipped the top of the net and the ball went out.

Sinner didn't recover as he lost the game and ended up losing the set in a tiebreak. Altmaier held his nerve in the fifth and final set to leave the tennis world shocked.

The crowd barracked for the popular Sinner throughout the more than five-hour epic. But the Italian's loss, especially having an overhead smash to win the match, left the tennis world absolutely stunned.

Jannik Sinner devastated after French Open defeat

Clay is seen as one of Sinner's stronger surfaces, but the Italian struggled during his campaign having finished the season 8-3. Despite reaching the Monte Carlo semi-final, Sinner struggled in both Rome and Paris.

The Italian was classy in defeat and said he was ready to bounce back even stronger. “I had my opportunities. I couldn't find a right way how to win the points,” Sinner said after the match. “I was a little bit unfortunate at some points. But this is the sport. I will come back stronger.

“I knew it was a tough last two tournaments. I put a little bit too much expectations or pressure [on myself], it's part of the game. I feel like the season is going good. I played a lot of matches… It is a tough one to swallow, but I [will] keep going.”

Daniel Altmaier celebrates his victory over Jannik Sinner.
Daniel Altmaier (pictured) was in tears after defeating Jannik Sinner at the French Open. (Photo by Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Sinner struggled with injury a few weeks ago and withdrew from the Madrid Open, but he didn't offer up any excuses for his French Open preparations. “I felt very prepared for here. Mentally I felt good. Physically we were working hard,” he added.

“Long, long practice sessions. It's tough when you work so hard and you don't take the reward. But this is not a sprint. This sport is a marathon. I will keep going with the hard work, and I will also get my rewards. This was, it's a tough one, yes, but it doesn't end here."

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