Jannik Sinner’s exit from Roland Garros has blown the tournament wide open.
Sinner fell in the second round to Juan Manuel Cerundolo, losing the match in five sets while struggling with physical issues.
How concerned are you about Jannik Sinner’s physical issues going forward in his career?
The Italian was the heavy favourite to go all the way after Carlos Alcaraz‘s withdrawal, but now there will be a new major champion outside of the ‘new two’ for the first time since 2023.
Sinner’s exit, as well as Ben Shelton’s, has meant Felix Auger-Aliassime is the only top-ten player in the top half of the draw.
Also in that top half lies Frances Tiafoe, who, along with everyone else, now fancies his chances.
Frances Tiafoe reacts to Jannik Sinner’s exit from Roland Garros
Asked in an interview with TNT Sports US if he feels a change in momentum with no Sinner or Alcaraz, Tiafoe replied: “Yeah, I mean, I’ll be honest with you, I felt it prior.
“But at the same time, as much as I want to say, yeah, it’s a huge opportunity, a lot of the guys I lose to are not Alcaraz and Sinner.
Who is your dark horse for the Roland Garros title this year?
“Let’s call a spade a spade. It’s definitely a big opportunity. There are some other guys, maybe looking at it like Djokovic and Zverev. Those guys are definitely looking at it like that.
“As far as the other guys, myself included, I’m not thinking like oh, here we go, but sure, I mean, why not.”
Frances Tiafoe’s potential path to the Roland Garros final
Tiafoe’s best result at Roland Garros is a quarterfinal finish, which he achieved last year, and he now has a great chance of surpassing that and making the final.
His next opponent at the tournament comes in the form of Portuguese qualifier Jaime Faria, who has yet to drop a set in Paris.
Should he advance past Faria, Tiafoe will be faced with either Matteo Arnaldi or Raphael Collignon in the fourth round.
Potential quarterfinal opponents for Tiafoe include Matteo Berrettini, Francisco Comesana, Martin Landaluce and Sinner’s conqueror, Cerundolo.
If Tiafoe makes the semifinals, he is projected to take on fourth seed Auger-Aliassime, who himself also has a golden opportunity at advancing to a maiden Grand Slam final.
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