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 was 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. With Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal due to injury, it was the perfect opportunity for the Italian to build some momentum by winning and putting the pressure on Alcaraz to maintain his position at the top. But instead, the difficult conditions and the grueling tennis tour have claimed another victim.

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 user Olly_Tennis_: “Jannik Sinner retires down 3-2 in the third set in Shanghai to Griekspoor… Right leg cramping.”

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.

This outcome brings both a tangible and a symbolic setback. Sinner not only missed the chance to defend his points in Shanghai but also lost some momentum in his pursuit of the year-end World No.1 spot. Right now, the Shanghai exit serves as a reminder to everyone that even the most talented players can face challenges in the sport. Indeed, the Italian definitely wasn’t the only one dealing with something like this at the Shanghai Masters.

Players facing similar issues just like Jannik Sinner

Casper Ruud had a great time at the Laver Cup and made it to the semifinals at the Japan Open, almost taking down Carlos Alcaraz. He was feeling positive about using this momentum in Shanghai to rack up some important points for the Race to Turin. However, Ruud’s run at the Shanghai Masters came to an unexpected end when he faced Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the Round of 64. He had to retire from the contest while down 1-4 in the third set.

The match was quite a showdown, with Ruud snagging the first set 6-3, but then Bergs came back strong to take the second set 7-5. So, this early exit is definitely a tough break for Ruud, especially since the Shanghai tournament hasn’t really been one of his stronger Masters events in the past.

Also, players such as Arthur Rinderknech have voiced their concerns about the intense heat and the humid weather in Shanghai. The Frenchman shared his thoughts after winning against Alex Michelson, saying, “It’s hard to breathe on the court. It’s tough right from the warm-up. There’s crazy humidity. There’s a part of the battle that has nothing to do with tennis. It’s about survival, about managing to find ways to prevail.”

Yeah, there have definitely been quite a few issues at the Shanghai Masters. It’s a tournament that’s turning less about the tennis and more about which player can successfully fight through the overbearing heat and humidity of Shanghai.