Sinner limps off with cramps after Shanghai retirement

Jannik Sinner was forced to retire against Tallon Griekspoor on Sunday as leg cramps in 80 percent humidity hit the top seed hard in the third round of the Shanghai Masters.

The Italian world No. 2 had to retire after splitting sets with his Dutch opponent who had snapped a seven-match losing streak with his opening victory here.on Friday.

Griekspoor advanced 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 retired.

Sinner was hit by cramping in his left leg quads and had to lean on his racquet to reach his chair after losing the fifth game.

He tried to enter for the upcoming game but only took a few steps before calling it a match after more than two and a half hours in the unrelenting conditions.

He was helped off the court by a tournament physio and one of his team members,

“This is definitely not the way you want to win,” Griekspoor said. “We’ve had brutal conditions all week, we were lucky to play in the evening without the sun.

“I’m sorry for Jannik.”

The player who finished with 32 winners, got out of jail late in the second set, saving three break points – two with aces – for 4-all.  He then broke Sinner for 6-5 and closed out the set.

The top seed began to feel his physical problems in the deciding set, leaning on his racquet and not sitting down during a changeover.

“The first set was high level for both of us,” Griekspoor said.”Jannik played an unbelievable tiebreaker, there was not much I could do.

“I got lucky at 4-3 in the second and served my way out of it. You need luck to win those kind of matches.

“I had two and a half months of not winning a match, I playd poorly in the US (summer) but recovered well for the Asia trip.with my game coming along.

“My win two days ago was very important for me.”

The Dutchman had lost all six of his previous matches against Sinner.

This was the second time he had defeated a world No. 2 after beating Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells last March in the second round,

He is the first Dutchman to reach the Shanghai fourth round.