Sinner retires from Shanghai Masters due to cramps
Jannik Sinner retired from his match against Tallon Griekspoor at the Shanghai Masters due to cramps caused by extreme heat and humidity. The Italian, ranked second, loses 950 points and sees his chances of ending the year as world number one fade. Carlos Alcaraz, sidelined by injury, unexpectedly benefits from his rival's misfortune.
In a match lasting two and a half hours, Sinner succumbed to Shanghai's demanding weather conditions, with temperatures around 30°C and 94% humidity. The score was 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-2 in favor of Griekspoor when the Italian, limping and leaning on his racket, chose to retire. This defeat costs Sinner 950 points, as he was defending the title won the previous year, and drastically reduces his chances of overtaking Alcaraz in the rankings, where he trails by 1,340 points, and 2,540 in the annual race to the Turin Masters Cup.
The conditions have impacted many players: up to 15 seeds have been eliminated, and there have been six retirements, including Hamad Medjedovic (22 years), Térence Atmane (23), Casper Ruud (26), David Goffin (34), Tomas Machac (24), and Sinner (24). Novak Djokovic advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Yannick Hanfmann 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in 2 hours and 42 minutes, though he vomited and constantly needed gels and salts. "It's crazy. I didn't remember the humidity being so high here. But that's how it is; it's the same for me and my opponent," the Serb said earlier. After his win, he added: "It's the same for everyone, but it's brutal".
Griekspoor, who saved six break points in the second set, consoled Sinner and remarked: "The conditions have been brutal all week. I thought we had some luck playing at night, without sun, but after two hours and 36 minutes… I'm sorry for him, I wish him a speedy recovery." Other players, like Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, exaggerated: "I thought I was dying," highlighting the exorbitant humidity and pollution in China that complicates breathing.