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During an intense Round of 32 encounter at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the Italian star was forced to retire against Tallon Griekspoor after suffering severe cramps in humid weather.

Their battle concluded with Sinner behind his Dutch opponent 7-6(3), 5-7, 2-3 when the Italian gave in to physical distress.

Brutal Conditions Take Their Toll in Shanghai

Throughout the closing stages of a extended and arduous season, conditions in the Chinese city have been particularly severe, with players confronting 90% humidity on the weekend.

Many competitors struggled badly under these demanding circumstances, even those scheduled for the evening matches.

In Sinner's case, competing in the evening offered little relief from a tenacious Griekspoor, who pushed the match into a third set.

During the final set, Sinner had clearly declined physically, limping and cramping severely before making the decision to withdraw.

Opponent's Response to the Surprising Victory

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” said Griekspoor. “Extreme circumstances here in Shanghai all week already. I thought we were still a somewhat fortunate to play in the evening without direct sunlight, but over two and a half hours on the clock, halfway of the third set. Sorry for him, I hope for his speedy recovery.”

Tournament Implications

Carlos Alcaraz had withdrawn from Shanghai before the event because of an foot issue sustained during his championship campaign in Japan earlier this week.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a major chance for the remaining field, including the Serbian star, who advanced to the fourth round with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in Beijing

Elsewhere, the American talent continued her incredible breakout year by capturing the biggest title of her career at the China Open.

She defeated her Czech rival 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to claim the title.

Anisimova has now earned two premier-level tournaments this season—at the China Open and Qatar Open—while also reaching two grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

After being positioned as low as No. 41 in February, she now stands at fourth in the WTA rankings and No. 3 in the season-long race.

Her performance has secured her a place in the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia for the first time in her career.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the recent week has been particularly satisfying given she underwent wisdom tooth surgery on the day she flew to China.

“It has been a challenging weeks for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I believe like I’ve discovered a lot about myself. I think I can take a lot of positives and view it as a lot of growth for me just figuring out ways to handle difficult situations and push myself in moments when it seems like I can’t go any forward. I believe like in that sense I realized that I’m more resilient than I imagined. This is a huge win for me.”