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In a dramatic third-round encounter at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Jannik Sinner was compelled to withdraw versus Tallon Griekspoor following experiencing severe cramps in humid weather.

Their battle ended with the world No. 2 behind Griekspoor 7-6(3), 5-7, 2-3 when he gave in to physical issues.

Harsh Environment Cause Problems in China

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

Many competitors faced significant difficulties in these challenging situations, even those scheduled for the night session.

For Sinner, being placed in the night provided minimal respite from a determined opponent, who dragged the match into a deciding set.

By the final set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated in fitness, limping and suffering cramps severely before taking the decision to retire.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Unexpected Win

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” commented the Dutchman. “Brutal 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 over two and a half hours 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The world No. 1 had withdrawn from Shanghai prior to the competition because of an foot issue sustained in his title run in Tokyo earlier this week.

Sinner’s retirement now presents 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 win over Yannick Hanfmann.

Anisimova’s Breakthrough in Beijing

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

She overcame Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to secure the title.

She has now won two premier-level tournaments this season—at the Beijing event and Doha competition—while also making two major finals at Wimbledon and the Flushing Meadows.

Having been positioned as low as 41st in winter, she now stands at No. 4 in the women's tour standings and No. 3 in the season-long race.

This has secured her a spot in the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her professional life.

Overcoming Challenges

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

“It has been a challenging weeks for me here, for sure,” she said. “I feel like I’ve discovered 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 figuring out ways to face difficult situations and push myself in times when it feels like I can’t go any forward. I believe like in that sense I learned that I’m stronger than I imagined. This is a major achievement for me.”