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During an intense Round of 32 encounter at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was compelled to withdraw against Tallon Griekspoor following experiencing severe cramps in muggy weather.

The match ended with Sinner behind his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 as he succumbed to physical issues.

Brutal Conditions Take Their Toll in Shanghai

During the final weeks of a extended and grueling season, conditions in the Chinese city have been particularly severe, with competitors confronting 90% humidity on the weekend.

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

In Sinner's case, competing in the night offered little relief against a tenacious Griekspoor, who pushed the contest into a third set.

During the third set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated in fitness, limping and cramping severely before taking the choice to retire.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Unexpected Win

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” said the Dutchman. “Brutal circumstances here in this city all week already. I believed we were still a somewhat lucky to play in the evening without direct sunlight, but over two and a half hours on the clock, middle of the final set. Sorry for him, I hope for his speedy recovery.”

Tournament Implications

Carlos Alcaraz had withdrawn from Shanghai before the competition due to an ankle injury suffered in his championship campaign in Tokyo earlier this week.

The Italian's withdrawal offers a significant opportunity for the remaining field, such as Novak Djokovic, who advanced to the round of 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over his German opponent.

Anisimova’s Breakthrough in Beijing

In other news, Amanda Anisimova carried on her remarkable breakout year by capturing the biggest title of her professional journey at the Beijing tournament.

The young star defeated Linda Noskova in a three-set thriller to claim the championship.

She has now earned two premier-level tournaments this season—at the Beijing event and Qatar Open—while also reaching two major finals at the All England Club and the US Open.

After being positioned as low as No. 41 in February, she now sits at No. 4 in the WTA rankings and third in the WTA race.

This has earned 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 gratifying considering she had wisdom tooth surgery on the day she traveled to Beijing.

“It’s been quite a few 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 look at it as a lot of growth for me just learning ways to face difficult situations and push myself in moments when it seems like I can’t go any forward. I feel like in that sense I realized that I’m more resilient than I imagined. This is a huge win for me.”