Off we go into the unknown: a round of 16 on the men’s side at a major that does not include a single former Grand Slam champion for the first time since 1968. 

As the French say, un truc de fou. 

So, what happens next? 

We turned to the players to get their thoughts at this critical juncture of this year’s tournament. 

“Everyone thought he'd win this year's French Open,” fourth-seeded Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime said when asked of Sinner’s shock exit. “It's not going to be him. I guess that's the beauty of sports.” 

The Canadian reminds us (or perhaps himself) that Sinner’s absence isn’t something he will have to worry about unless he reaches the last four. 

“If you're in my spot, you know that that's not going to change anything for me,” said the Canadian, one of two top 5 seeds remaining. 

Will the players have more hope, given that the consensus lock to win the title has cratered? 

“Now he's out, I think everyone is going to have even more, but ultimately it doesn't really matter,” said Frances Tiafoe, after Sinner's shock departure. “You've got to beat one guy – whoever is in front of you.

'It's a long two weeks – a lot of things can happen.”

Casper Ruud, one of two former finalists in the lower half of the draw along with No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, has had to fight through near exhaustion and a pair of five-setters to keep his hat in the ring. Needless to say, he’s excited to have made the round of 16.

“It's such an open tournament, which is kind of refreshing for everyone,” he said. “To see that there will be a new Slam champion in about a week or so, I think every player is aware of it.

“It will be interesting to see where we are in a week's time.”

Former world No.1 Andy Roddick, who now hosts the Served with Andy Roddick Podcast, says he hasn’t seen a men's singles draw at a Slam this discombulated in a long, long time. 

“I don’t know that a Grand Slam has been this open on the men’s side since the year 2003,” he said. “It’s crazy town.”

Roddick believes that the highest seed remaining, No.2 seed Zverev is going to bear the brunt of the pressure.  

“I know everyone is going to jump on the Zverev train and he is going to feel equal parts opportunity and pressure,” he said. “This is his moment, his time, and maybe the first time where he is the favourite at this point in a Slam.”

After shaking Court Philippe-Chatrier to its foundations with his ferocious forehand, Brazil’s Joao Fonseca said the pressure won’t be on him.

The 19-year-old sure played like a title contender on Saturday night against Djokovic, but he would rather see the spotlight shone on the tried-and-true veterans still left in the tournament.

“Of course, Jannik and Djokovic are out and there's more chances for the guys that have more time on tour, like Sascha and Casper,” he said. “I'm just going to enjoy the moment.”

For the first time since Rafael Nadal won his final title at Roland-Garros in 2022, the winner of a men’s singles Grand Slam won’t be named Djokovic, Alcaraz or Sinner. 

Ruud, having been to three major finals, says he plans to use his experience to make a run for the Coupe des Mousquetaires. 

“I'm going to try to use the experiences that I've had of reaching far in Slams to my advantage and see where that takes me, but you focus one match at a time,” he said.