Jannik Sinner showed up in Shanghai feeling optimistic and ready to defend the title he claimed in 2024. As the current Shanghai Masters champion, he’s already making a splash this week, kicking off his campaign with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory over Daniel Altmaier to move on to the third round.
In the tournament previews, he opened up about the challenges he was facing, saying, “I knew before the match it was going to be very difficult today. I didn’t have a lot of time to adapt here, but it makes it even more special. Every day, every opponent is very difficult, it’s a huge challenge. So I’m very happy to come through today and hopefully I’m able to raise my level tomorrow.” He also pointed out how tough the conditions in Shanghai can be, mentioning that it’s “much more humid” and that keeping his physical state in check would be really important.
The Italian was coming in hot, just having snagged a title at the China Open in Beijing and ready to keep his winning streak going during the Asian swing. But the storyline that began with confidence quickly took a painful turn. As reported on X by @Olly_Tennis_: “Jannik Sinner retires down 3-2 in the third set in Shanghai to Griekspoor… Right leg cramping.”
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Sinner’s title defense came to a sudden halt in a close match against Tallon Griekspoor, as the Italian had to withdraw because of physical issues. The match was at a tricky point, with both players really fighting for control. But Sinner’s leg, well, it let him down. The cramping got worse to the point where he just couldn’t go on, so he had to pull out of the match and let Griekspoor take the win.