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During an intense third-round encounter at the Shanghai Rolex Masters, the Italian star was compelled to withdraw versus Tallon Griekspoor following suffering severe cramps in muggy weather.

Their battle ended with the world No. 2 trailing his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 when he gave in to physical distress.

Brutal Conditions Cause Problems in China

During the final weeks of a long and arduous season, conditions in the Chinese city have been especially tough, with players facing 90% humidity on Sunday.

Numerous athletes faced significant difficulties in these demanding circumstances, including those scheduled for the night session.

For Sinner, competing in the evening offered little relief from a determined Griekspoor, who dragged the match into a third set.

By the final set, Sinner had visibly deteriorated physically, limping and suffering cramps badly before making the decision to retire.

Opponent's Response to the Surprising Victory

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” commented the Dutchman. “Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I believed we were still a somewhat lucky to play in the night without direct sunlight, but over two and a half hours on the clock, middle of the third set. I feel for him, I wish him quick recovery.”

Impact on the Competition

The world No. 1 had withdrawn from Shanghai before the competition because of an foot issue sustained during his championship campaign in Tokyo recently.

Sinner’s retirement now presents a major chance for the other competitors, such as the Serbian star, who advanced to the fourth round with a hard-fought three-set victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in China

In other news, Amanda Anisimova continued her remarkable breakout year by winning the most significant trophy of her professional journey at the China Open.

She defeated Linda Noskova 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 to claim the title.

She has now earned two premier-level tournaments this year—at the China Open and Qatar Open—while also reaching two major finals at Wimbledon and the Flushing Meadows.

Having been ranked as far down as No. 41 in winter, she now sits at fourth in the WTA rankings and third in the WTA race.

Her performance has earned her a place in the year-end championships in Saudi Arabia for the maiden appearance in her professional life.

Overcoming Challenges

Her progress over the past nine days has been especially satisfying considering 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 said. “I feel like I’ve learned a lot about myself. In my opinion 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 times when it feels like I can’t go any further. I feel like in that regard I learned that I’m stronger than I imagined. This is a huge win for me.”