Jannik Sinner’s Shanghai Masters title defense was brought to a crushing end on Sunday evening when the Italian had to retire midway through the third round of his match with Tallon Griekspoor due to severe cramping in his right thigh. Sinner was trailing 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-2 to Griekspoor when he collapsed after a physically demanding match that took nearly two and half hours.
The World No. 2 started to look distressed towards the end of the second set, grabbing for ice towels in desperation at changeovers in a bid to calm down during the choking Shanghai humidity that has beset players throughout the week. As the third set progressed, the cramping became so severe that Sinner was unable to remain on his feet, eventually having to retire.
Also Read: Jannik Sinner responds sharply to Alexander Zverev’s court bias accusations, says ‘We don’t make…’
💔 Jannik Sinner forced to retire in Shanghai.
As fans, these images are incredibly hard to watch — he gave everything until his body couldn’t take it anymore. End of the Asian swing.
No one cares about the points or the title not defended — just wishing you a full recovery,… pic.twitter.com/DGgfpMmE8H---Advertisement---— The Sinner Times (@sinnertimes) October 5, 2025
It was a cruel conclusion to what had otherwise been a top-class, hotly fought match. Sinner had dominated the first set in a tense tiebreak, establishing a commanding 4-0 lead with two initial breaks. But Griekspoor rallied with grit, breaking at a critical stage towards the end of the second set to level the match. The Dutchman, who had never beaten Sinner before in their prior encounters, eventually earned a breakthrough victory under adverse conditions.
The sweltering Shanghai weather has been a dominant theme of the tournament, with humidity always higher than 80 percent. Countless players have visibly struggled. Even Griekspoor conceded the conditions were very tough, and Novak Djokovic, who played later in the same evening, was also observed vomiting courtside during his own three-set struggle against Yannick Hanfmann. Serbian great Djokovic said he couldn’t remember the last time he played in such high humidity.
Also Read: China Open: Jannik Sinner wins 21st career title after defeating Learner Tien – Here’s what happened
Sinner’s retirement could not have been timed worse. Having just come off a dominant charge to the final in Beijing days before, he rolled into Shanghai with momentum and confidence, seemingly ready to go deep in this title defense. His premature departure, along with Carlos Alcaraz’s previous withdrawal due to an ankle injury, opens up the draw wide—and puts Djokovic in as the emphatic favorite for the title as he pursues a record-extending fifth Shanghai Masters title.
For Sinner, meanwhile, the spotlight is now on his recovery. With the season reaching a decisive period, the priority will be to recover full fitness and return to play as quickly as possible.
