Sinner unable to stand, helped off court after gruelleing three sets battle in Shanghai
A stunning retirement has derailed Jannik Sinner’s run, handing the tenacious Dutchman, Tallon Griekspoor, a hard-fought 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 victory on Sunday.
Jannik Sinner retires in Shanghai | © Tennis TV
The last third-round clash of the day at the Rolex Shanghai Masters ended in distressing scenes on Sunday evening as world number two and defending champion Jannik Sinner was forced to retire from his match against the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor due to severe physical exhaustion.
The Dutchman advanced to the fourth round leading 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-2 ret. after two hours and 36 minutes of a relentless, physical battle that ultimately succumbed to the brutally hot and humid conditions in China.
This scene was the most high-profile casualty of a brutal week in China. With players enduring what Novak Djokovic called “insane” humidity, which has been reported to reach over 80-85% alongside temperatures climbing over 30°C during the day, the Rolex Shanghai Masters has become a contest of survival rather than pure tennis skill.
Scenes in Shanghai
Earlier in the day, the world’s number five, Taylor Fritz, was visibly doubled over and struggling with exhaustion in his match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who himself admitted he felt like he was “dying on the court.” Slow conditions and the grueling late-season schedule is pushing the ATP Tour’s elite to their absolute breaking point on the outdoor courts of China.
This is Sinner’s second retirement in two months after the Cincinnati final against Carlos Alcaraz (5-0 ret.). Sinner was sick.
The match between Sinner and Griekspoor, a first meeting between the two players on the ATP Tour, was a contest of fine margins from the outset. Sinner, fresh off a title run in Beijing, began by taking a highly competitive first set in a tiebreak, 7-6(3).
Griekspoor pushed the Italian throughout and showed immense resilience, especially in the second set where he saved multiple break points that could have ended his challenge. He capitalised on a late shift in momentum to break Sinner and take the second set 7-5, forcing a decider.
As the match entered the third set, the cumulative strain of the conditions and the high-intensity play became visibly apparent on Sinner, who had to adapt quickly after his triumph in the drier conditions of Beijing. The Italian star began to suffer from acute cramping, noticeably limping and struggling to stand straight between points, a painful sight for the Shanghai crowd.
Griekspoor : “Not the way you want to win”
The 23-year-old was barely able to complete his final service game, eventually conceding the break to Griekspoor, who took a 3-2 lead. At the changeover, the medical team was immediately summoned. After a quick assessment, the physical toll proved too much, and the young champion was compelled to retire from the contest.
The scene of Sinner’s departure was a difficult watch for the fans, as the physio was required to physically assist him both to his chair and then as he slowly made his way out of the stadium.
For Tallon Griekspoor, the victory is an immense personal milestone, securing his place in the fourth round of a Masters 1000 event, but the circumstances muted his celebration.
“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” Griekspoor said in his post-match comments on court. “Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I thought we were a little bit lucky to play in the evening without sun, but two hours and 36 minutes on the clock, middle of the third set… I’m sorry for him, I wish him a speedy recovery.”
“I got a bit lucky at 3-4 in the second, where I saved 0-40 and served my way out of it”, the Dutch added. “Sometimes you need a little bit of luck to win these matches.”
The early exit is a sad end to the title defence of Sinner, who now faces a crucial period of rest and recovery before the final stretch of the season. Griekspoor, meanwhile, advances to face a qualifier in the next round, maintaining the theme of unexpected results at this year’s humidity-plagued Shanghai Masters. He will meet qualifier Valentin Vacherot, who exited Tomas Machac. On retirement.
