🔗 Share this article

During an intense Round of 32 encounter at the Shanghai Masters, Jannik Sinner was compelled to withdraw versus Tallon Griekspoor after suffering debilitating muscle cramps in muggy weather.

Their battle ended with Sinner behind his Dutch opponent 7-6(3), 5-7, 2-3 as he gave in to physical issues.

Harsh Environment Cause Problems in Shanghai

Throughout the closing stages of a extended and arduous tour, conditions in Shanghai have been especially tough, with competitors confronting extreme mugginess on Sunday.

Numerous athletes struggled badly under these demanding situations, even those scheduled for the evening matches.

For Sinner, being placed in the evening provided minimal respite from a determined opponent, who pushed the contest into a deciding set.

During the third set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated in fitness, hobbling and cramping badly before taking the decision to withdraw.

Opponent's Response to the Unexpected Win

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” commented the Dutchman. “Brutal circumstances here in Shanghai all week already. I believed we were still a little bit lucky to play in the night without direct sunlight, but over two and a half hours on the clock, middle of the final set. Sorry for him, I wish him quick recovery.”

Impact on the Competition

Carlos Alcaraz had withdrawn from Shanghai before the competition because of an ankle injury suffered during his championship campaign in Tokyo recently.

Sinner’s retirement offers a significant opportunity for the other competitors, such as Novak Djokovic, who advanced to the round of 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Anisimova’s Breakthrough in China

In other news, Amanda Anisimova continued her incredible breakout year by capturing the biggest title of her career at the Beijing tournament.

She defeated Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to secure the championship.

Anisimova has now won two WTA 1000 titles this year—at the Beijing event and Doha competition—while also reaching two grand slam finals at the All England Club and the US Open.

Having been positioned as far down as No. 41 in winter, she now sits at fourth in the WTA rankings and third in the WTA race.

This has earned her a place in the year-end championships in Riyadh for the maiden appearance in her professional life.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the past nine days has been especially satisfying given she had wisdom tooth surgery on the same day she traveled to Beijing.

“It has been quite a few period for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I feel 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 difficult situations and push myself in times when it seems like I can’t go any forward. I feel like in that sense I learned that I’m more resilient than I think. This is a huge win for me.”