'Absolute baloney': Jim Courier slams Jannik Sinner medical timeout after French Open exit

World No.1 and top seed Jannik Sinner crashed out of French Open 2026 in round 2 on Thursday. Sinner, who was favourite to win this year’s Roland Garros lost to 56th ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo after battling in Paris heat for 3 hours and 35 minutes.


The four-time grand slam winner was cruising towards a straight sets win over before the 2 degree Paris heat took its toll on the Italian and suddenly his physical condition deteriorated.






Leading 5-1 in the third set, Sinner lost 15 straight points, then took a medical timeout for cramping, a condition not normally eligible for a timeout under ATP rules. He returned but could barely move and lost 18 of the final 20 games and lost the match by a scoreline of 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1, marking the earliest exit by a top men’s seed at Roland Garros since 2000.


However, the decision to give Sinner a medical timeout triggered backlash from commentators and former players. Former Grand Slam champion Jim Courier criticised and said it was 'absolute baloney' and unfair to Cerundolo during the broadcast on TNT sports. Courier argued chair umpires are being lenient to the top players during the situations like cramping.


Courier said on air, "This is absolute baloney. That's not fair. That's not right. We love the top players, they drive the sport, but you've gotta apply the rules fairly. The rules are being bent for the top players."


Under the current ATP guidelines, players are not allowed to take medical timeouts for cramping which is treated as a fitness issue rather than an injury. Players can only receive medical assistance from physio during changeovers or set breaks. They are not permitted to leave the court.


Sinner spent nearly ten-minutes outside the court for off-court medical assistance and that’s why it has been criticised as breaks are absolutely not allowed for cramping issues and the situation is unfair for lower-ranked players.


Following the loss which also ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak, the Italian’s hopes of achieving a first French Open and Career Grand Slam has faded away. With Carlos Alcaraz already sidelined due to a wrist injury, the world will see a new name as a Grand Slam champion for the first time since the 2024 Australian Open.
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