The Italian tennis contingent has defied early disaster at Roland Garros 2026 (the French Open in Paris), placing three men in the round of 16 after world number 1 Jannik Sinner's sudden physical breakdown and exit on May 28 opened a wide field on the Paris clay. Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, and Matteo Arnaldi all advanced on May 30 after marathon battles, keeping alive the dream that Italy could still lift the trophy on June 7—exactly 50 years after Adriano Panatta's legendary triumph.
Why This Matters:
• Three Italian men reached the Roland Garros round of 16 despite Sinner's second-round exit on May 28, the deepest Italian run at the tournament in decades.
• Berrettini will face Juan Manuel Cerúndolo on June 2, the Argentine who knocked out Sinner, in a potential redemption match.
• Sinner is expected to skip at least the Halle Open (June 15-21) and may return directly at Wimbledon on June 29, according to sources close to his team.
• The tournament has lost both Sinner and Novak Djokovic, creating the most open men's draw at a major in years.
The Unexplained Physical Breakdown: Understanding Sinner's May 28 Exit
Adriano Panatta, the Italian tennis icon tasked with presenting the Roland Garros trophy to this year's champion, remains puzzled by what he witnessed on May 28. Speaking to ANSA, Panatta described Sinner's sudden physical breakdown against Cerúndolo as "puzzling"—an unexpected shutdown that saw the world number 1 surrender a two-set lead and 5-1 advantage in the third set before losing in five.
"It was as if someone pulled the plug," Panatta said. "There were no warning signs. Cramps are ruled out, and I know he's monitored very carefully for dehydration. Only he and his team can know what happened."
Sinner, the favorite after winning the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome earlier in May, managed just six more games after leading comfortably. The 25-year-old stayed on court until the bitter end, finishing with a final score of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in Cerúndolo's favor. Panatta praised Sinner's composure: "He lost while feeling terrible, but he did it with dignity. Not many would have done the same in those conditions."
The exact cause remains undisclosed. Sinner left Paris the morning after his defeat, reportedly returning either to San Candido in Italy's South Tyrol or his residence in Monte Carlo. Sources close to the team told ANSA that the Italian will take approximately three weeks off, including rest, medical evaluation, and gradual recovery. He could resume light training in 10 days, with the target of competing at Wimbledon starting June 29.
Panatta dismissed the heat as a standalone explanation, despite Paris experiencing record May temperatures exceeding 34°C. "I've slept badly before matches too. You can still play in 34 degrees—we're used to heat everywhere." Yet the tournament medical team was stretched thin: 28 emergency interventions were recorded on May 27 alone, breaking the previous single-day record of 25 set in 2017.
Berrettini, Cobolli, and Arnaldi Keep the Dream Alive: May 30 Victories
With Sinner's May 28 exit and Novak Djokovic eliminated by Brazil's João Fonseca in a five-hour epic on May 29, the remaining Italians sensed opportunity. All three won brutal five-set matches on May 30 to reach the round of 16.
Matteo Berrettini saved two match points in a 15-13 fifth-set tiebreak to outlast Argentina's Francisco Comesaña, winning 7-6, 5-7, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 after more than five hours. It marks the first time Berrettini has reached the Roland Garros round of 16. Speaking afterward, the Roman said: "Playing a match like this was almost unthinkable for me just weeks ago. I'm incredibly happy I managed to fight until the end."
Berrettini, who has battled recurring injuries over the past two seasons, credited new coach Thomas Enqvist with restoring his confidence. "He gave me the belief I was missing," Berrettini said, adding that he had "doubted himself in the past" but now feels mentally resilient. His reward? A June 2 showdown with Cerúndolo, the man who ended Sinner's campaign. When asked if he sought revenge on Sinner's behalf, Berrettini demurred: "Jannik has proven a million times he's a champion making tennis history. I can only speak for myself. I'd love to have Jannik's mental strength, honestly."
Matteo Arnaldi also needed the full distance, defeating Belgium's Raphael Collignon 6-4, 6-7, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 in nearly five hours. Arnaldi, who upset Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round on May 28, will next face either Faria or Tiafoe (American) in the round of 16 on June 2.
Flavio Cobolli, meanwhile, cruised past American Learner Tien in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 on center court Philippe-Chatrier on May 30. The 24-year-old from Rome exudes cautious optimism. "There's a different atmosphere in the locker room," Cobolli told reporters. "The two strongest players are out, and now Djokovic too. When you walk through the locker room, there's a window for everyone, and everyone wants to seize it. I'm ready to fight on every point."
Cobolli faces American Zachary Svajda next on June 2, acknowledging the challenge: "I've never played him on clay, but he's won his matches here, so he must be in good rhythm. I'll need to be very careful." Still, he believes the surface suits him. "I know I have a greater chance here than at other Slams, because we're playing on my surface." His philosophy? "Dreaming is never wrong. Lots of us are dreaming here. The one who dreams most will win."
What This Means for Italian Residents: The Upcoming June 2 Matches
For Italian sports fans, this tournament represents both heartbreak and hope. Sinner's May 28 collapse deprived the nation of a near-certain first Roland Garros title for a male player since Panatta in 1976. Yet the depth of Italian men's tennis—three in the round of 16—hasn't been seen in generations.
The pivotal moment comes on Monday, June 2, when all three Italians face their round-of-16 opponents. Cobolli plays Svajda, Arnaldi meets either Faria or Tiafoe, and Berrettini gets his shot at Cerúndolo. A victory by any of the three would guarantee Italy's first men's Roland Garros quarterfinalist since 1978. Berrettini's match carries extra emotional weight: a chance to avenge Sinner's loss and keep alive Panatta's dream of handing the trophy to a compatriot.
For those in Italy watching on television, expect extended coverage across RAI Sport and Sky Italia, with all three matches scheduled for Monday, June 2. Check local listings, as match times depend on weather and scheduling.
The Broader Landscape: A Tournament Losing Its Stars
Roland Garros 2026 has become a tournament of attrition. Beyond Sinner's May 28 exit and Djokovic's May 29 elimination, defending women's champion Coco Gauff was eliminated in the third round by Austria's Anastasia Potapova on May 30, making her the third top-5 women's player to exit early, alongside Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina.
The men's draw now sees Alexander Zverev, the world number 3, as the overwhelming favorite. Panatta, ever colorful, had a warning for the Italian hopefuls: "Zverev has great experience. And then there's Djokovic... well, he's out now. But I used to call him 'the rattlesnake'—he sits still under the sun, then strikes when you least expect it."
Cerúndolo himself survived a 5-hour, 58-minute marathon against Spain's Martin Landaluce on May 29 to set up the June 2 Berrettini clash, the third-longest match in Roland Garros history. The Argentine, ranked 56th in the world, is experiencing his first deep run at a major and appears to thrive in the heat that caught Sinner off-guard on May 28.
Sinner's Next Steps and the Road to Wimbledon
Sinner's plan to skip at least the grass-court Halle Open and potentially return directly at Wimbledon is both strategic and concerning. He will forfeit ATP ranking points from last year's Halle appearance, but the Italian team evidently believes rest trumps match practice. The choice suggests the May 28 episode was serious enough to warrant extended caution, even as the official explanation remains vague.
Panatta, for his part, sees this as a test Sinner has passed before. "Setbacks can happen to anyone, and Sinner has already overcome several in his short career," Panatta said. "He's shown he's very mature for his age."
Whether Sinner's body—and mind—will be ready for the quick grass courts of southwest London in four weeks remains an open question. For now, all Italian tennis hopes rest with the trio still standing in Paris, each one match away from making history.
