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In a dramatic Round of 32 match at the Shanghai Masters, Jannik Sinner was forced to retire against Tallon Griekspoor following suffering severe cramps in humid conditions.

The match concluded with the world No. 2 behind his Dutch opponent 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 as he gave in to physical distress.

Harsh Environment Take Their Toll in Shanghai

Throughout the final weeks of a extended and grueling season, conditions in Shanghai have been particularly severe, with players confronting extreme mugginess on Sunday.

Many competitors struggled badly under these demanding situations, including those set for the evening matches.

For Sinner, being placed in the evening provided minimal respite from a determined Griekspoor, who dragged the contest into a deciding set.

By the third set, the Italian had visibly deteriorated in fitness, limping and cramping badly before making the decision to retire.

Griekspoor's Reaction to the Surprising Victory

This is certainly not the way you want to win,” said Griekspoor. “Brutal circumstances here in this city all week already. I thought we were still a little bit fortunate to play in the evening without direct sunlight, but two hours, 36 minutes on the clock, middle of the final set. I feel for him, I hope for his speedy recovery.”

Tournament Implications

The world No. 1 had withdrawn from the tournament prior to the event due to an ankle injury sustained during his title run in Tokyo earlier this week.

The Italian's withdrawal now presents a significant opportunity for the other competitors, including the Serbian star, who progressed to the round of 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory over Yannick Hanfmann.

Rising Star’s Success in Beijing

Elsewhere, Amanda Anisimova carried on her incredible breakthrough season by capturing the most significant trophy of her career at the Beijing tournament.

The young star defeated Linda Noskova in a three-set thriller to secure the title.

Anisimova has now won two WTA 1000 titles this season—at the China Open and Doha competition—while also making two grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Having been positioned as far down as 41st in February, she now stands at fourth in the WTA rankings and third in the season-long 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

Anisimova's rise over the past nine days has been particularly gratifying considering she had wisdom tooth surgery on the day she traveled to Beijing.

“It’s been quite a few period for me here, for sure,” she admitted. “I feel like I’ve discovered 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 figuring out ways to face certain challenges and challenge myself in times when it seems like I can’t go any forward. I feel like in that sense I realized that I’m more resilient than I think. That’s a huge win for me.”