Shanghai’s humidity claims victims in third round
The Shanghai Masters third round brought brutal conditions to the fore, with cramps sidelining Jannik Sinner and upsets exposing the field’s fraying edges, as survivors like Novak Djokovic pushed through illness toward deeper runs.
In the thick, humid air of Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium, Sunday’s third-round matches at the Masters 1000 event laid bare the physical toll of the late-season grind. Defending champion Jannik Sinner’s retirement due to severe leg cramps against Tallon Griekspoor marked a shocking end to his title defense, while big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard stunned fourth-ranked Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5 to advance. The oppressive atmosphere, with humidity exceeding 80 percent, turned every point into a battle of endurance on the medium-fast hardcourts.
Sinner’s cramps halt a promising defense
Sinner, fresh from his China Open victory in Beijing, captured the opening set 7-6 (3) with flat groundstrokes that kept Griekspoor pinned deep, but the Dutchman fought back to take the second 7-5 through deeper returns that stretched the court wide. In the decider, trailing 2-3 after two hours and 36 minutes, Sinner began massaging his right thigh, his explosive movement faltering on the slick surface that demands quick recovery steps. The Italian’s abrupt withdrawal handed Griekspoor the win, a result that amplified the psychological weight of a compressed Asian swing.
Griekspoor’s empathy underscored the shared strain among players navigating these conditions.
This is definitely not the way you want to win. Brutal conditions here in Shanghai all week already. I thought we were a little bit lucky to play in the evening without sun, but two hours and 36 minutes on the clock, middle of the third set ... I’m sorry for him, I wish him a speedy recovery.
The exit raises concerns for Sinner’s recovery ahead of the ATP Finals, where every top seed’s fitness could shift the year-end narrative.
Mpetshi Perricard’s aces shatter Fritz’s momentum
Mpetshi Perricard fired 12 aces to Fritz’s nine, breaking in each set with aggressive returns that anticipated the American’s big first serve and forced defensive lobs on the low-bouncing hardcourt. The 21-year-old Frenchman’s inside-out forehands opened angles for down-the-line passes, disrupting Fritz’s reliable baseline rhythm and marking his first tour-level victory over the fourth seed. Fritz, who had relied on his one–two punch in prior rounds, couldn’t adjust to the varied pace, including occasional underspin slices that slowed the tempo and induced errors.
This upset propels Mpetshi Perricard into the last 16 against 10th-seeded Holger Rune, a clash where serve dominance might tip the scales in the humid conditions that favor bold attackers. Fritz’s early departure stings amid his strong hard-court season, highlighting how surface speed can expose even top players to opportunistic underdogs.
Djokovic endures to keep title chase alive
Novak Djokovic, pursuing a record-extending fifth Shanghai title, dropped the first set 4-6 to German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, whose booming serves and net rushes exploited gaps in the Serb’s return positioning with crosscourt volleys that hugged the lines. Illness hit during the second set, forcing Djokovic to vomit on a changeover, yet he rallied 7-5, 6-3 by shortening points with inside-in forehands and backhand slices that drew Hanfmann forward into passing-shot opportunities. The veteran’s tactical adjustments turned the match, his experience overriding the physical drain on a court where humidity saps power from prolonged rallies.
Djokovic later spoke to the relentless environment that affected all competitors. it’s the same for every player out on the court, but it’s brutal. it’s brutal when you have over 80 percent of humidity day after day, particularly for the guys when they’re playing during the day with heat, with sun, it’s even more brutal. He now faces Jaume Munar, a matchup that could allow him to conserve energy while rebuilding form.
Elsewhere, Holger Rune advanced 6-4, 6-4 over 21st-seeded Ugo Humbert, using deep returns to neutralize the left-hander’s spin and secure breaks with precise crosscourt winners. Zizou Bergs upset 19th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (1), 6-3, his resilient defense and opportunistic net play frustrating the Argentine’s rhythm on the predictable bounce. The 31st-seeded Gabriel Diallo progressed by walkover after David Goffin retired early in the first set, easing his path through a draw rattled by retirements.
Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, coming off his Japan Open triumph last week, skipped the event due to minor ailments, a decision that underscores the value of pacing oneself in a grueling calendar. As the fourth round looms, the survivors’ ability to adapt to Shanghai’s heat will define paths to the title, with underdogs like Mpetshi Perricard threatening to extend their runs against fatigued favorites.