French Open 2023: Jannik Sinner suffers latest shock after loss to Daniel Altmaier in five-hour epic

Jannik Sinner is out of the French Open after a shock second-round defeat to Daniel Altmaier in a five-set epic, 6-7 7-6 1-6 7-6 7-5.

Altmaier, ranked No. 79 in the world, stunned the eighth seed in a match lasting five hours and 26 minutes - the fifth longest match in Roland-Garros history - on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.

Asked how he managed to produce such a performance, a tearful Altmaier said: “Well, I just love the game of tennis, that's why.

“In the past months, me and my team have been putting so much effort, all together. I can just say to everybody that we play here, but behind us, we have such a strong team and that's why this victory is a team effort.

“Playing every point you can with the best effort, that's what keeps you in reality. So, I was just sticking to that. I think we have had historical matches [at Roland-Garros], and there were so many match points there, there and there. I don't know if you can call it a historical match but I think it was one to remember.

“Personally, I love playing and I love the crowd and everything, so the emotions were crazy."

The tone was set in the first set. Sinner was pushed all the way but managed to a win the tie-break, although Altmaier levelled after the second also went all the way.

The Italian found his groove to dominate the third but saw another tie-break go the way of his German opponent in the fourth after surrendering two match points.

Altmaier seized the advantage with a decisive break in the decider, and in an epic final game, saved three break points before converting his fifth match point for the victory.

The contest was tightly fought from the start with Sinner powering through a tie-break without reply to clinch the opening set in just under an hour.

Forcing another tie-break in the second set after Sinner had squandered the chance to break at 3-1 and set a commanding tone, Altmaier held his nerve to rally ahead and earn three set points to pull level. But Sinner made him work, saving two of those points and then landing a backhand return for 6-6 before Altmaier annihilated an overhead to level the match with his fifth set point.

The third set is where the momentum of the match looked to swing in Sinner’s favour as the seventh seed breezed through to 6-1, leaving the German with the task of winning two sets in a row.

Full of heart, the 24-year-old took a three-game lead in the all-important fourth set before Sinner - full of unforced errors - finally posted for 3-1 and restored the relentless form he found in the second set to break back and hold to draw level at 3-3.

Altmaier produced an epic service game which led to seven deuces lasting over a quarter of an hour to finally land the game and lead 4-3, and after a Sinner hold for 4-4, the Italian earned two break points in another gruelling Altmaier service game which the German swatted away and then denied a third with a powerful ace down the middle.

Sinner found a way through and after Altmaier’s fierce forehand down the line was a fraction wide, the match was set up for Sinner to serve out at 5-4.

But there was more drama as a determined Altmaier broke him for 5-5 after heroically saving two match points which helped earn a decider after coming through yet another tiresome tiebreak.

A tense fifth set saw Altmaier hit his 10th ace of the match as he saved three break points before finally ending the dramatic five-hour-26-minute encounter with his fifth match point.

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