🔗 Share this article Jannik Sinner Compelled to Withdraw Due to Muscle Cramps, Handing Griekspoor Win at Shanghai Open During an intense Round of 32 encounter at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was forced to retire versus Tallon Griekspoor following experiencing debilitating muscle cramps in muggy conditions. The match concluded with Sinner behind his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 as the Italian succumbed to physical distress. Harsh Environment Take Their Toll in Shanghai During the final weeks of a extended and grueling season, conditions in the Chinese city have been particularly severe, with players facing extreme mugginess on the weekend. Numerous athletes faced significant difficulties in these demanding circumstances, including those scheduled for the evening matches. In Sinner's case, competing in the evening offered little relief against a determined opponent, who pushed the match into a deciding set. During the final set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated in fitness, limping and suffering cramps badly before taking the choice to retire. Griekspoor's Reaction to the Unexpected Win This is certainly not the way you want to win,” commented Griekspoor. “Brutal conditions here in this city all week already. I believed we were still a somewhat lucky to play in the evening without sun, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, halfway of the third set. Sorry for him, I wish him quick recovery.” Impact on the Competition Carlos Alcaraz had withdrawn from the tournament before the competition due to an ankle injury sustained during his championship campaign in Japan earlier this week. Sinner’s retirement now presents a significant opportunity for the other competitors, including Novak Djokovic, who advanced to the fourth round with a hard-fought three-set win over Yannick Hanfmann. Rising Star’s Success in Beijing Elsewhere, Amanda Anisimova continued her incredible breakthrough season by capturing the biggest title of her professional journey at the China Open. The young star defeated Linda Noskova in a three-set thriller to secure the championship. She has now earned two WTA 1000 titles this year—at the Beijing event and Qatar Open—while also making two grand slam finals at the All England Club and the Flushing Meadows. Having been positioned as far down as 41st in winter, she now sits at No. 4 in the WTA rankings and No. 3 in the season-long race. This has secured her a place in the year-end championships in Riyadh for the maiden appearance in her career. Overcoming Challenges Her progress over the recent week has been particularly gratifying given she underwent wisdom tooth surgery on the day she flew to Beijing. “It has been quite a few period for me here, for sure,” she said. “I believe like I’ve discovered a lot about myself. I think I can take a lot of positives and view it as a lot of progress for me just learning ways to handle difficult situations and push myself in times when it seems like I can’t go any further. I believe like in that regard I learned that I’m more resilient than I imagined. That’s a huge win for me.”