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During an intense third-round encounter at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, Jannik Sinner was forced to retire versus the 27th seed after suffering severe cramps in muggy weather.

Their battle concluded with the world No. 2 behind his Dutch opponent 7-6(3), 5-7, 2-3 when the Italian gave in to physical issues.

Brutal Conditions Cause Problems in Shanghai

Throughout the final weeks of a long and grueling season, playing environments in Shanghai have been especially tough, with players facing extreme mugginess on Sunday.

Numerous athletes faced significant difficulties under these demanding circumstances, including those scheduled for the evening matches.

For Sinner, being placed in the night provided minimal respite from a tenacious Griekspoor, who pushed the contest into a deciding set.

By the final set, the Italian had visibly deteriorated in fitness, hobbling and suffering cramps badly before making the choice to withdraw.

Opponent's Response to the Surprising Victory

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” said Griekspoor. “Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I thought we were still a somewhat lucky to play in the night without sun, but over two and a half hours 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 pulled out from the tournament before the event due to an ankle injury sustained in his championship campaign in Tokyo earlier this week.

The Italian's withdrawal now presents a significant opportunity for the remaining field, including the Serbian star, who progressed to the round of 16 with a hard-fought three-set win over his German opponent.

Anisimova’s Breakthrough in China

Elsewhere, Amanda Anisimova continued her incredible breakthrough season by capturing the most significant trophy of her career at the Beijing tournament.

The young star defeated her Czech rival 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to claim the championship.

Anisimova has now won two WTA 1000 titles this year—at the Beijing event and Qatar Open—while also reaching two major finals at the All England Club and the US Open.

After being ranked as far down as No. 41 in February, she now stands at No. 4 in the women's tour standings and third in the season-long race.

Her performance has earned her a spot in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her career.

Triumphing Over Obstacles

Her progress over the recent week has been especially gratifying considering she had wisdom tooth surgery on the day she flew to Beijing.

“It’s been a challenging weeks for me here, for sure,” she said. “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 face certain challenges and challenge myself in times when it feels like I can’t go any further. I believe like in that sense I realized that I’m more resilient than I think. That’s a major achievement for me.”