Defending Champion Jannik Sinner Out Of Shanghai Masters With Leg Injury

Defending champion at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai, Jannik Sinner, was forced to retire in the third round. The Italian was struck by a cramp in his right thigh during the deciding set, allowing Tallon Griekspoor to advance to the round of 16.

The Dutchman was leading 6–7, 7–5, 3–2 when the South Tyrolean had to retire. Sinner was in visible pain, limping heavily and barely able to shake hands with the umpire. Already by the end of the second set, the Italian was struggling to move in the humid conditions. Throughout the match, he had towels and ice wrapped around his neck during changeovers.

Griekspoor: “Conditions in Shanghai Have Been Brutal”
“I didn’t want to advance this way. The conditions in Shanghai have been brutal all week. The humidity is extremely high. Even though this was a night match and we avoided the intense sun, we still played for over two and a half hours,” said Griekspoor, currently ranked 31st in the ATP rankings. “I was also quite lucky in the eighth game of the second set. If I had gone down 3–5, I probably wouldn’t have come back.”

Sinner‘s chances of overtaking Carlos Alcaraz for the ATP No. 1 ranking have now diminished significantly. The Spaniard holds a 2,540-point lead over the Italian this season.

Hanfmann Gives Đoković a Tough Challenge

Novak Đoković had to dig deep to overcome world No. 150 Yannick Hanfmann, winning 4–6, 7–5, 6–3 in two hours and 43 minutes. The German lost his serve in the fourth game of the final set. In the round of 16, the Serbian will face Spain’s Jaume Munar.

DoctorsBonus Shanghai Masters winner prediction:

Novak Đoković – 2.50

Alex De Minaur – 6.50

Alexander Zverev – 7.50

Holger Rune – 10.00

Daniil Medvedev – 13.00