"I didn’t know what to do in Paris": Top-25 player describe the helpless feeling of facing Jannik Sinner

World No. 21 Francisco Cerundolo discussed how Jannik Sinner has evolved over time throughout their matchups, having claimed two victories in six clashes against the Italian since 2022. The 27-year-old Argentine holds 15 career wins against top-10 players, including one against a Sinner who had just broken into the ATP Tour's elite group.

Cerundolo continues to show great consistency on the Tour, finishing inside the top 30 for the fourth consecutive year with a 38-25 record, although he went without a title this year. Nevertheless, he put together strong campaigns in some of the most important tournaments: semifinals at the Madrid Open, quarterfinals at Indian Wells and Miami, in addition to an 18-8 record in Masters 1000 events.

The three-time ATP title winner only reached one final during 2025, which came on home soil at the Argentina Open clay courts back in February. However, he ultimately fell to young star Joao Fonseca, who defeated the local favorite in the final to claim the first title of his career.

One player who can speak firsthand about Sinner's evolution is Cerundolo, who has faced the Italian several times over the years. Their first meeting back in 2022 ended quickly in the Miami Open quarterfinals, when Sinner retired after just five games with the South American leading 4-1.

Months later came the Davis Cup duel, where Sinner secured the win in three sets. They faced off one last time that year in Vienna—again on indoor hardcourt—with the Italian winning in straight sets. Sinner reached the top 10 for the first time in his career during the 2022 season, although he finished the year at No. 15.

In 2023, Sinner climbed to No. 4 by year's end, winning his first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open and reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon. He won a total of three titles and reached three other finals—including the ATP Finals, where he fell to Novak Djokovic.

“In 2023, he was like No. 5 or No. 6 in the world and now, obviously, he is No. 1 or No. 2, so it is very different,” Cerundolo commented in an interview with Tennis 365, referring to his early matchups against the Italian. “He had no weaknesses, no holes.”

During that year, Cerundolo surprised Sinner in the Round of 16 at the Rome Open, claiming a 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory on clay courts. He managed to level the head-to-head against Sinner, and two years would pass before they faced each other on court again. It was once again in Rome—Sinner's first tournament this year after returning from suspension—where he defeated Cerundolo in straight sets.

“I played him in Rome this year and it was close,” the South American No. 1 commented during his participation in the UTS Grand Final London. “This was his first tournament when he came back after his suspension and I had a little more time to think on the court and try to create something.”

“Then I played him in Paris indoors on a hard court and he was unbeatable. I was playing good, but I lost the first set 7-5 and then it was 6-1. Honestly, I felt like I was playing good and you get one game in the set,” the world No. 21 added. “He is always there. His serve is amazing, his return is incredible and then with the points at the baseline, he hits the ball really hard and you have no time. I didn’t know what to do in Paris.”

“He has improved a lot. Two years ago, maybe physically he was not so good and if you played long matches and long points, he was missing some balls. Now he is not missing anything.”

The Argentine finished the season as the best representative of Latin America, ending the year at world No. 21, and hopes to take a step forward next season. With Sinner and Alcaraz as the players to beat in the big tournaments, Cerundolo acknowledged that it is difficult to come up with a strategy to defeat the Italian. “I didn’t beat him this year, so I don’t have a clue for that. I just need to practice for next season and try to be ready. To beat them (Alcaraz and Sinner), I have to play perfect and they have to play a little bit bad.”