Sinner Forced to Retire Due to Muscle Cramps, Handing Tallon Griekspoor Victory at Shanghai Masters

During an intense Round of 32 match at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was compelled to withdraw versus the 27th seed following experiencing severe cramps in humid conditions.

The match concluded with the world No. 2 behind Griekspoor 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when the Italian succumbed to physical issues.

Brutal Conditions Cause Problems in Shanghai

During the closing stages of a extended and grueling tour, playing environments in Shanghai have been especially tough, with players confronting extreme mugginess on Sunday.

Many competitors faced significant difficulties under these challenging situations, even those scheduled for the evening matches.

For Sinner, being placed in the evening offered little relief against a determined opponent, who pushed the contest into a third set.

By the third set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated in fitness, hobbling and suffering cramps badly before taking the choice to withdraw.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Unexpected Win

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” said the Dutchman. “Extreme conditions here in this city all week already. I believed we were still a somewhat lucky to play in the night without direct sunlight, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, middle of the final set. Sorry for him, I wish him quick recovery.”

Impact on the Competition

Carlos Alcaraz had pulled out from the tournament prior to the event due to an ankle injury sustained in his title run in Tokyo earlier this week.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a major chance for the remaining field, including Novak Djokovic, who advanced to the fourth round with a hard-fought three-set win over his German opponent.

Rising Star’s Success in China

Elsewhere, the American talent carried on her remarkable breakout year by winning the most significant trophy of her professional journey at the China Open.

She defeated her Czech rival in a three-set thriller to secure the championship.

Anisimova has now earned two premier-level tournaments this year—at the Beijing event and Qatar Open—while also reaching two grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the Flushing Meadows.

Having been ranked as far down as 41st in February, she now stands at No. 4 in the WTA rankings and third in the season-long race.

This has secured her a spot in the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her career.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the recent week has been especially gratifying considering she underwent dental surgery on the day she flew to Beijing.

“It’s been quite a few period for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I believe like I’ve learned a lot about myself. I think I can take a lot of good things and view it as a lot of progress for me just figuring out ways to face certain challenges and challenge myself in times when it seems like I can’t go any further. I feel like in that regard I realized that I’m stronger than I imagined. That’s a major achievement for me.”