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In a dramatic third-round match at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was compelled to withdraw against the 27th seed following suffering severe cramps in humid weather.

The match ended with the world No. 2 behind Griekspoor 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 as he gave in to physical distress.

Harsh Environment Cause Problems in Shanghai

During the closing stages of a long and arduous season, playing environments in Shanghai have been especially tough, with players confronting 90% humidity on the weekend.

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

In Sinner's case, being placed in the night provided minimal respite from a determined opponent, who pushed the contest into a deciding set.

During the final set, the Italian had visibly deteriorated physically, limping and cramping badly before making the choice to withdraw.

Opponent's Response to the Surprising Victory

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” commented Griekspoor. “Extreme conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I thought we were still a somewhat fortunate to play in the night without sun, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, halfway of the third set. I feel for him, I wish him quick recovery.”

Tournament Implications

Carlos Alcaraz had pulled out from the tournament before the event because of an foot issue suffered during his championship campaign in Japan earlier this week.

The Italian's withdrawal offers a major chance for the remaining field, including the Serbian star, who progressed to the fourth round with a hard-fought three-set win over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in Beijing

Elsewhere, Amanda Anisimova carried on her incredible breakout year by capturing the biggest title of her professional journey at the Beijing tournament.

She defeated Linda Noskova in a three-set thriller to secure the championship.

She has now won two WTA 1000 titles this season—at the Beijing event and Doha competition—while also reaching two grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

After being ranked as far down as 41st in February, she now sits at No. 4 in the WTA rankings and No. 3 in the season-long race.

This has secured her a spot in the WTA Finals in Riyadh for the maiden appearance in her career.

Overcoming Challenges

Her progress over the recent week has been particularly satisfying considering she had dental surgery on the same day she flew to Beijing.

“It has been quite a few weeks for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I feel like I’ve discovered a lot about myself. I think 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 challenge myself in moments when it feels like I can’t go any forward. I believe like in that sense I realized that I’m stronger than I imagined. That’s a major achievement for me.”