Jannik Sinner scheduled to play in hottest part of day in second round of French Open

Jannik Sinner has been scheduled to play his second-round match at the French Open during the day, with the world No 1 set to face the hottest part of the afternoon as he bids to reach the third round and continue his winning streak.

Sinner will play Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the opening match on Court Philippe-Chatrier and at noon local time in Paris, with temperatures set to be at least 30 degrees as he bids to extend his winning streak to 31 matches and close in on the career grand slam with his first French Open title.

The Italian has previously struggled in hot conditions and played his first-round match in the night session on Tuesday evening, when the temperature was cooler. But the night session match on Thursday will be between Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini.

Sinner’s last defeat at Masters level came when he was forced to retire from last season’s Shanghai Masters due to severe leg cramps amid extreme heat and humidity. He then had a fortunate escape against Eliot Spizzirri in this season’s Australian Open, suffering cramps as temperatures reached 36 degrees before the tournament’s extreme heat rule was enforced and Sinner was able to recover before progressing in four sets.

Players at the French Open are experiencing a record heatwave. Novak Djokovic was given the opening night session on Sunday, but the 39-year-old was then scheduled to play his second-round match during the day as he takes on Frenchman Valentin Royer.

Speaking on TNT Sports, former French Open champion Jim Courier said the tournament had to be “fair” in its scheduling of the top players and argued that everyone should have to face the hot conditions at least once.

“It definitely adds another layer of intrigue,” Courier said before Djokovic played Royer on Wednesday. “I would expect Novak and Jannik to both go night, day, night in their first three matches should they keep winning. I think that’s sensible for a sense of fairness.

“It’s so extreme, but I think everyone should have to deal with the elements at least once. But it’s a real thing, Novak does not like playing in the heat, Jannik has also struggled in the heat.”

French Open order of play – day five

(all times BST)

Court Philippe-CHATRIER – 11:00am

• Jannik Sinner (ITA) (1) vs Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG)
• Ann Li (USA) (30) vs Diane Parry (FRA)
• Aryna Sabalenka (1) vs Elsa Jacquemot (FRA)

Night Session – Not before 7:15pm

• Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) (22) vs Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

Court Suzanne-LENGLEN – 10:00am

• Adolfo Daniel Vallejo (PAR) vs Moise Kouame (FRA)
• Julia Grabher (AUT) vs Amanda Anisimova (USA) (6)
• Coco Gauff (USA) (4) vs Mayar Sherif (EGY)
• Raphael Collignon (BEL) vs Ben Shelton (USA) (5)

Court Simonne-MATHIEU – 10:00am

• Donna Vekic (CRO) vs Naomi Osaka (JPN) (16)
• Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) (25) vs Hugo Gaston (FRA)
• Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) (4) vs Roman Andres Burruchaga (ARG)
• Victoria Mboko (CAN) (9) vs Katerina Siniakova (CZE)

Court 14 – 10:00am

• Iva Jovic (USA) (17) vs Emma Navarro (USA)
• Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Frances Tiafoe (USA) (19)
• Antonia Ruzic (CRO) vs Madison Keys (USA) (19)
• Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) vs Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)

Court 7 – 10:00am

• Flavio Cobolli (ITA) (10) vs Yibing Wu (CHN)
• Diana Shnaider (25) vs Mccartney Kessler (USA)
• Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs Claire Liu (USA)
• Luca Van Assche (FRA) vs Brandon Nakashima (USA) (31)

Court 6 – 10:00am

• Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG) vs Learner Tien (USA) (18)
• Anna Kalinskaya (22) vs Alina Korneeva
• Francisco Comesana (ARG) vs Luciano Darderi (ITA) (14)
• Katie Boulter (GBR) vs Anastasia Potapova (AUT) (28)