Three Italian men reach French Open quarterfinals without Sinner

Jannik Sinner, the world's top-ranked player, fell to Juan Manuel Cerundolo of Argentina in the second round of the French Open on Thursday, according to AP News. Yet Italy's presence at Roland Garros has not collapsed with him. Three Italian men have reached the quarterfinals — Matteo Berrettini, Matteo Arnaldi and Flavio Cobolli — marking the first time the country has achieved this depth in the men's draw at the tournament.

Berrettini and Arnaldi will face each other in Wednesday's night session, which guarantees at least one Italian in the semifinals. Cobolli will meet Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the other quarterfinal in the same half of the draw. The convergence of Italian talent in the latter stages reflects a shift in the country's tennis landscape, where the burden of expectation no longer rests solely on Sinner's shoulders.

Sinner's exit came amid a heat wave that swept Paris during the tournament, forcing players to manage extreme conditions. AP News reported that temperatures rose significantly during the competition, with players using ice to cool themselves between points. The conditions may have contributed to the upsets and unpredictable results that have marked this year's tournament.