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In a dramatic third-round match at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Jannik Sinner was forced to retire against Tallon Griekspoor following suffering debilitating muscle cramps in muggy weather.

Their battle concluded with Sinner behind his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when he gave in to physical distress.

Brutal Conditions Take Their Toll in Shanghai

Throughout the closing stages of a long and grueling season, playing environments in Shanghai have been particularly severe, with competitors confronting 90% humidity on the weekend.

Numerous athletes faced significant difficulties under these demanding circumstances, even those scheduled for the night session.

In Sinner's case, being placed in the evening offered little relief from a tenacious opponent, who dragged the match into a third set.

During the third set, the Italian had clearly declined in fitness, limping 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 fortunate to play in the night without direct sunlight, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, middle of the third set. Sorry for him, I wish him speedy recovery.”

Tournament Implications

The world No. 1 had withdrawn from Shanghai before the event due to an foot issue sustained in his title run in Tokyo recently.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a significant opportunity for the remaining field, including Novak Djokovic, who progressed to the round of 16 with a hard-fought three-set win over his German opponent.

Rising Star’s Success in China

In other news, Amanda Anisimova continued her remarkable breakthrough season by winning the biggest title of her career at the Beijing tournament.

She defeated her Czech rival 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to claim the title.

She has now earned two WTA 1000 titles this season—at the Beijing event and Doha competition—while also reaching two major finals at the All England Club and the Flushing Meadows.

Having been ranked as far down as No. 41 in winter, she now sits at No. 4 in the women's tour standings and No. 3 in the season-long race.

Her performance has secured her a spot in the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia for the first time in her career.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the past nine days has been especially satisfying considering she underwent dental surgery on the day she traveled to China.

“It has been a challenging period for me here, for sure,” she said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself. In my opinion I can take a lot of positives and look at it as a lot of progress for me just figuring out 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 think. That’s a major achievement for me.”