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During an intense Round of 32 match at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was forced to retire against Tallon Griekspoor following experiencing debilitating muscle cramps in muggy weather.

Their battle concluded with Sinner trailing his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 as the Italian gave in to physical distress.

Brutal Conditions Cause Problems in Shanghai

During the final weeks of a long and grueling season, playing environments in Shanghai have been especially tough, with players confronting 90% humidity on Sunday.

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

In Sinner's case, competing in the evening offered little relief against a tenacious opponent, who pushed the match into a deciding set.

By the third set, the Italian had clearly declined physically, limping and suffering cramps badly before taking the decision to retire.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Surprising Victory

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” commented Griekspoor. “Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I believed we were still a little bit lucky to play in the night without sun, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, halfway of the final set. I feel for him, I hope for his speedy recovery.”

Impact on the Competition

The world No. 1 had withdrawn from Shanghai before the event because of an ankle injury suffered during his championship campaign in Japan earlier this week.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a significant opportunity for the remaining field, such as the Serbian star, who progressed to the round of 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in China

In other news, Amanda Anisimova carried on her remarkable breakout year by winning the most significant trophy 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 won two WTA 1000 titles this year—at the China Open and Qatar Open—while also reaching two major finals at the All England Club and the US Open.

Having been positioned as far down as No. 41 in winter, she now stands at fourth in the WTA rankings and No. 3 in the season-long race.

This has secured her a spot in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her professional life.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the past nine days has been particularly gratifying given she had dental surgery on the same day she flew to China.

“It has been a challenging period for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I believe like I’ve learned a lot about myself. In my opinion I can take a lot of good things and view it as a lot of growth 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 realized that I’m stronger than I imagined. This is a huge win for me.”