Sinner Withdraws Amid Cramping Issues in Griekspoor Showdown in Shanghai
Limping Italian receives on-court assistance following early exit in China
October 05, 2025
Hu Chengwei/Getty Images
Jannik Sinner forced to retire in his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai.
By ATP Staff
Jannik Sinner’s attempts to defend his title at the Rolex Shanghai Masters came to a heartbreaking conclusion on Sunday evening, as the Italian had to retire during the final set of his intense third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor.
At the moment of withdrawal, Griekspoor was leading 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-2, when the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings succumbed to severe cramps in his right thigh, exacerbated by the stifling humidity in Shanghai.
Griekspoor moves ahead 6-7(3), 7-5, *3-2 as Sinner is compelled to retire during the third set in Shanghai…@SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/ikJUzmts3X
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 5, 2025
Sinner’s struggles became evident late in the second set, as he hastily draped ice towels around his neck during the changeover before the deciding set. In the final moments, he was visibly limping and frequently massaged his thigh. At one changeover, instead of resting on his seat, he elevated his legs on the bench in a desperate attempt to prevent further cramping.
“This is definitely not how you want to win,” Griekspoor remarked. “The conditions here in Shanghai have been tough all week. I felt fortunate to play in the evening without direct sun, yet after two hours and 36 minutes in the middle of the third set, I’m sorry for him and wish him a quick recovery.”
The tough match took its toll on Sinner, especially given the intensity of his encounter with Griekspoor. The Dutchman seemed close to defeat when he faced 0/40 while serving at 3-4 in the second set but made a remarkable comeback to clinch it and set the stage for a decisive third.
“The first set was high quality from both players, and we dominated our service games,” Griekspoor noted. “He played an exceptional tie-break, hitting some incredible shots. I had a bit of luck at 3-4 in the second, coming back from 0/40 and managing to escape.”
Griekspoor’s achievement of becoming the first Dutch player to reach the fourth round in the history of the Shanghai tournament sets up his next match against Valentin Vacherot, who also advanced after Tomas Machac retired while trailing 6-0, 3-1.
Sinner’s withdrawal from the third round poses a significant setback in his quest to challenge Carlos Alcaraz for the ATP Year-End No. 1 title presented by PIF. Currently, the Italian trails by 2,540 points in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin, which serves as an indicator for the Year-End No. 1 competition.
