Djokovic falls to teen Fonseca at heat-ravaged French Open

French Open Players Struggle as Paris Heat Peaks at Roland Garros

An unprecedented late-May heat wave has turned the 2026 French Open into an endurance contest, claiming top-ranked Jannik Sinner as its most prominent casualty and prompting Novak Djokovic to call on organizers to reschedule matches to protect players from dangerous conditions.

Sinner Falls, Djokovic Ousted as Heat Takes Toll

The world number one Sinner saw his 30-match winning streak end Thursday when he struggled with dizziness and collapsed physically during his second-round match against 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo. Leading two sets to love and 5-1 in the third, Sinner took a medical timeout and complained of feeling “dizzy” before losing 18 consecutive points en route to a 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 defeat on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Temperatures reached 33°C (91°F) during the match.ajc

On Friday, Djokovic himself was eliminated in five sets by 19-year-old João Fonseca in the third round, capping a brutal week that has tested the sport’s biggest names.yahoo

Djokovic and Mensik Demand Change

After his second-round victory on Wednesday, Djokovic had urged organizers to push matches later in the day to avoid the worst of the heat, which has sent temperatures in Paris into the mid-30s Celsius — roughly 10°C above seasonal norms. Czech player Jakub Mensik, who collapsed on court after a marathon five-set win, called conditions “insane” and criticized organizers for scheduling such lengthy matches in extreme weather.rtl

France’s national meteorological service confirmed the country recorded its hottest May day on record this week, with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 32°C every day since the tournament began on Saturday. Despite the conditions, the tournament’s extreme weather policy — which allows for cooling breaks at a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature of 30.1°C and suspends play at 32.2°C — was never activated.ndtv

No Relief Until Next Week

The heat wave has affected both the men’s and women’s draws, with players relying on ice packs and portable fans between games. Hall of Famer Jim Courier described conditions as “a cauldron of heat”. CNN reported that the conditions this week have been warmer than typical July weather in Paris, traditionally the hottest month.forbes

Cooler, rainier weather is forecast for next week as the tournament enters its second week and moves toward the singles finals scheduled for June 6 and 7.olympics