Sinner’s thigh trouble ends Shanghai title defense

In the sweltering humidity of Shanghai on Sunday evening, Jannik Sinner‘s bid to repeat as champion at the Shanghai Masters unraveled in the third set against Tallon Griekspoor. The world No. 2 had edged the first set 7-6(3) with precise crosscourt backhands that pinned his opponent deep, but the Dutchman’s steady returns turned the tide in a grueling second frame. Leading 3-2 in the decider, Sinner pulled up short, signaling discomfort in his right thigh before retiring and conceding the match.

Griekspoor claws back from second-set peril

Griekspoor teetered on the edge at 3-4, 0/40 in the second set, his serve battered by Sinner’s aggressive inside-out forehands that exploited the medium-paced hard courts. He rallied with deep, looping topspin replies, forcing longer exchanges that sapped the Italian’s explosive lateral movement in the damp conditions. Stealing the set 7-5 through a mix of low slice approaches and down-the-line counters, the 28-year-old flipped the script, his endurance shining as the first Dutchman to reach the Shanghai fourth round.

Sinner‘s flat groundstrokes, usually a weapon in one–two combinations, lost their bite as humidity slowed the ball’s skid off the surface. Griekspoor absorbed the pace, redirecting with crosscourt angles that kept rallies alive and tested the defender’s thigh on every slide. The shift highlighted the psychological edge gained by the underdog, whose tactical patience eroded the favorite’s rhythm just as physical strain mounted.

Thigh issue exposes season’s accumulating toll

The injury, evident in Sinner’s hesitant steps during the decider, amplified the wear from a demanding 2025 calendar filled with major defenses and continental swings. After triumphs at the Australian Open and intense clay battles, the Asian hard-court push had already shown cracks in his baseline dominance. Courtside murmurs reflected the crowd’s sympathy as medical staff attended, underscoring how elite tennis exacts a price on body and mind alike.

Griekspoor’s advance, born of resilience rather than outright power, injected uncertainty into a draw now without its top seed. His heavy forehand, climbing high under the night lights, disrupted patterns that Sinner typically dictated with flat precision. As the Italian limped off to applause, the focus turned to recovery ahead of the Paris Masters and ATP Finals, where reclaiming form could secure his year-end standing.

Dutch breakthrough meets qualifier’s upset

Ahead lies a fourth-round clash with Valentin Vacherot, the qualifier who progressed when Tomas Machac retired at 6-0, 3-1 due to injury. Griekspoor’s path offers a chance to extend his historic run on courts that reward adaptability over raw speed. For Sinner, this pause demands strategic rest to counter the burnout threatening his No. 2 perch, while the tournament pulses forward with fresh narratives in the humid haze.