Why Jannik Sinner’s unthinkable French Open defeat is a huge wake-up call
Jannik Sinner was the biggest pre-tournament favourite at Roland Garros since Rafael Nadal in 2009 and his shock second-round defeat should alert every player in the draw while Carlos Alcaraz is absent.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 11:35
French Open order of play: Friday 29 May
- Magda Linette (POL) vs Iga Swiatek (POL) [3]
- Mirra Andreeva [8] vs Marie Bouzkova (CZE) [27]
- Joao Fonseca (BRA) [28] vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [3]
Night Session – Not before 7:15pm
- Quentin Halys (FRA) vs Alexander Zverev (GER) [2]
- Nuno Borges (POR) vs Andrey Rublev [11]
- Jil Teichmann (SUI) vs Karolina Muchova (CZE) [10]
- Elina Svitolina (UKR) [7] vs Tamara Korpatsch (GER)
- Casper Ruud (NOR) [15] vs Tommy Paul (USA) [24]
- Marta Kostyuk (UKR) [15] vs Viktorija Golubic (SUI)
- Alex Michelsen (USA) vs Rafael Jodar (ESP) [27]
- Alex de Minaur (AUS) [8] vs Jakub Mensik (CZE) [26]
- Peyton Stearns (USA) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI) [11]
- Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) vs Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
- Solana Sierra (ARG) vs Sorana Cirstea (ROU) [18]
- Karen Khachanov [13] vs Jesper de Jong (NED)
- Maya Joint (AUS) & Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) vs Anna Danilina (KAZ) & Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) [2]
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 11:32
Good morning and welcome
The French Open is still in shock after the defeat of overwhelming tournament favourite Jannik Sinner, a result that blows the men’s draw wide open and leaves Novak Djokovic as the only grand slam champion remaining.
Today, Djokovic will begin his bid to make the most of that opportunity. He has a tough match against Joao Fonseca, the exciting teenager from Brazil and 28th seed. Djokovic will also be playing in the heat, which could make life difficult.
Jamie Braidwood29 May 2026 11:30





