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During an intense Round of 32 encounter at the Shanghai Masters, Jannik Sinner was forced to retire versus the 27th seed after experiencing severe cramps in humid conditions.

Their battle ended with Sinner trailing his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when the Italian succumbed to physical distress.

Harsh Environment Cause Problems in China

During the closing stages of a long and arduous season, conditions in the Chinese city have been especially tough, with competitors confronting 90% humidity on the weekend.

Many competitors faced significant difficulties in these challenging circumstances, including those set for the night session.

For Sinner, competing in the night provided minimal respite against a determined opponent, who dragged the contest into a deciding set.

During the third set, the Italian had clearly declined physically, hobbling and cramping badly before taking the choice to withdraw.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Surprising Victory

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” commented the Dutchman. “Extreme circumstances here in Shanghai all week already. I believed we were still a little bit fortunate to play in the evening without direct sunlight, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, halfway of the final set. I feel for him, I hope for his quick recovery.”

Tournament Implications

The world No. 1 had withdrawn from Shanghai before the event due to an ankle injury sustained during his championship campaign in Japan recently.

Sinner’s retirement offers a major chance for the other competitors, such as the Serbian star, who advanced to the round of 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in China

In other news, Amanda Anisimova carried on her incredible breakout year by winning the most significant trophy of her professional journey at the Beijing tournament.

She overcame her Czech rival in a three-set thriller 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 Wimbledon and the Flushing Meadows.

After being positioned as low as 41st in winter, she now sits at fourth in the women's tour standings and third in the season-long race.

This has secured her a place in the WTA Finals in Riyadh for the maiden appearance in her career.

Overcoming Challenges

Her progress over the past nine days has been especially satisfying considering she had dental surgery on the same day she traveled to China.

“It’s been a challenging 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 learning ways to handle certain challenges and push myself in times when it seems like I can’t go any forward. I believe like in that sense I learned that I’m more resilient than I imagined. That’s a huge win for me.”