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In a dramatic third-round encounter at the Shanghai Masters, the Italian star was compelled to withdraw versus the 27th seed after experiencing debilitating muscle cramps in humid conditions.

The match ended with Sinner trailing Griekspoor 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when the Italian gave in to physical distress.

Brutal Conditions Cause Problems in Shanghai

Throughout the closing stages of a long and grueling season, playing environments in Shanghai have been especially tough, with competitors facing extreme mugginess on the weekend.

Many competitors faced significant difficulties under these challenging situations, including those set for the night session.

In Sinner's case, being placed in the evening provided minimal respite from a tenacious opponent, who dragged the contest into a deciding set.

By the final set, the Italian had clearly declined in fitness, hobbling and cramping severely before making the choice to retire.

Opponent's Response to the Unexpected Win

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” commented the Dutchman. “Brutal conditions here in this city all week already. I believed we were still a somewhat fortunate to play in the evening without sun, but over two and a half hours on the clock, middle of the third set. Sorry for him, I hope for his quick recovery.”

Tournament Implications

Carlos Alcaraz had pulled out from Shanghai prior to the competition due to an ankle injury suffered in his title run in Tokyo earlier this week.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a major chance for the other competitors, such as Novak Djokovic, who progressed to the round of 16 with a hard-fought three-set victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in China

In other news, the American talent continued her incredible breakout year by capturing the most significant trophy of her professional journey at the China Open.

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

Anisimova has now won two WTA 1000 titles this year—at the Beijing event and Doha competition—while also reaching two grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the Flushing Meadows.

Having been positioned as far down as 41st in February, she now stands at No. 4 in the women's tour standings and No. 3 in the WTA race.

Her performance has secured her a place in the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her professional life.

Overcoming Challenges

Anisimova's rise over the recent week has been particularly gratifying given she had wisdom tooth surgery on the same day she traveled to China.

“It has been quite a few 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 look at it as a lot of growth for me just figuring out ways to handle certain challenges and push myself in moments when it seems like I can’t go any further. I feel like in that regard I realized that I’m stronger than I imagined. This is a huge win for me.”