Day 5 at the French Open: A Day of Surprises and Drama
Day 5 of the French Open delivered one of the most dramatic days in recent Slam history, with a series of upsets, intense five-set matches, and intriguing storylines. The sweltering heat in Paris played a significant role in the outcomes, as it took out the tournament’s top favourite. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happened on this unforgettable day.
Biggest Upsets of the Round
The day was marked by several unexpected exits, as some of the top-seeded players fell early. Ben Shelton, the top-ranked American, and former French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas were among those who exited the tournament. Luciano Darderi also fell in a grueling five-set match, bringing the total number of seeded players eliminated to five.
However, none of these exits can compare to the shock of Jannik Sinner’s defeat. The World No. 1 and heavy favourite suffered one of the most significant upsets in tennis history. Just one game away from a comfortable straight-sets victory, Sinner’s body locked up due to cramps. He managed to win only two games in the next twenty played, ultimately falling to Juan Manuel Cerundolo. The Argentine player not only handled the conditions better but also executed a solid match once he realized how affected Sinner was.
Performance of the Round
While the focus is often on the biggest upsets, there were other standout performances on Day 5. Matteo Berrettini quietly advanced to the third round with a strong showing. Felix Auger-Aliassime also delivered one of his best matches on clay this year, overcoming an early setback to remain in the top 10 on this side of the draw.
The performance of the day, however, belonged to Belgian Raphael Collignon. He defeated Ben Shelton without much difficulty, not even allowing the American to break his serve throughout the match. Shelton, despite being highly ranked and winning the Munich title this year, had been struggling with form. However, Collignon’s first-ever top-30 victory on clay, achieved with ease, makes it a memorable performance.
Match of the Day
Out of the 15 matches played on Day 5, seven went to a fifth set, showcasing the intensity and attrition of the day. Moise Kouame extended his run in Paris with a thrilling five-hour encounter in a nail-biting fifth set. Brandon Nakashima and Learner Tien also secured solid wins, continuing their improvement on clay.
But the match of the day was undoubtedly played by Frances Tiafoe. He overcame Hubert Hurkacz in a five-set battle that featured over 350 points. The match was filled with tiebreaks, exciting points, and stretches dominated by serve, which is unusual for clay. Despite the challenges, Tiafoe maintained his composure, breaking for the match and securing a spot in the third round.
Biggest Talking Point
The historic upset of Jannik Sinner dominated the conversation, both in the men’s draw and across the tennis world. The Italian twice served for the match but could not win a single point on serve in those two games. Despite taking a medical timeout and a ten-minute toilet break, he never fully recovered his legs or serve.
Sinner’s loss has opened up the entire half of the draw, leaving only six seeded players, with just one inside the top 10. This creates an opportunity for any of these players to make a Slam final, which is rare given the absence of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner from the draw.
On the other side of the draw, players like Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev, who have long sought their first Slam, are now motivated. Novak Djokovic, set to face Joao Fonseca tomorrow, also has a clearer path to the title. For the first time in a long time, the path to the final will not feature Alcaraz or Sinner standing in the way, marking a significant shift in the tournament dynamics.
