The 2025 Shanghai Masters has made headlines for the wrong reasons, with players visibly struggling in challenging conditions. The penultimate Masters 1000 of the season promised high-stakes battles among the world’s best. Instead, the demanding environment has tested their endurance, forcing some to withdraw mid-event.
World No. 2 Jannik Sinner was among those affected, while fourth seed Novak Djokovic narrowly escaped defeat under similar circumstances, reflecting the struggles many have faced in Shanghai. So let’s see how the top ATP stars dealt with the challenging Shanghai conditions.
How Did Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic and Others Struggle During the 2025 Shanghai Masters?
The tournament was rocked early on by major withdrawals, including World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
As noted, players have shown visible signs of struggle, with the sweltering heat adding to the challenge. A striking example came in the opening round when World No. 61 Terence Atmane was forced to retire just 40 minutes into his clash with Ugo Carabelli.
The reason became clear only later, when the Frenchman revealed on Instagram that he “couldn’t breathe,” his “head hurt pretty badly,” and he experienced panic, shaking, and disorientation, unable to realize where he was.
Four-time Major champion Sinner also faced a stern test in Shanghai, with his third-round clash against Tallon Griekspoor exposing physical struggles that left him fighting to stay on court. The trouble began for Sinner when he dropped the second set 7-5 against Griekspoor.
In the third set, his condition worsened, and by the fifth game, he was scarcely able to serve or cover the court. Even after a leg massage, the defending champion was in no shape to continue as he hobbled off the court in visible discomfort.
Not how anyone wanted it to end 😢
Jannik Sinner is forced to retire hurt in the third set meaning Tallon Griekspoor progresses to the next round #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/QRowNyQwLx
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 5, 2025
Meanwhile, four-time Shanghai champion Djokovic, making his 11th appearance at the tournament, also struggled during his third-round clash with Yannick Hanfmann. Battling the suffocating heat, the Serb was visibly distressed and even vomited during a changeover in the second set.
Djokovic in Shanghai today 🤮👀 pic.twitter.com/lewhOLsIVV
— Tennis Masterr (@tennismasterr) October 5, 2025
Though he managed to grind out a hard-fought victory, Djokovic did not hold back afterward, describing the conditions as “brutal” with humidity soaring above 80 percent.
With the constant travel and varying climates, players have found it difficult to adapt to the conditions. Danish youngster Holger Rune was no exception, struggling in the Shanghai heat during his second-round clash with Ugo Humbert and even calling for a medical timeout.
Some Other Players Who Struggled Amid Challenging Shanghai Conditions
Another notable player concern is the slower courts at this year’s tournament. The Court Pace Index, which measures how fast or slow a surface plays, stood at 40.8 last year, classifying Shanghai’s courts as medium-fast. This year, however, the index plummeted to 32.9, marking a steep decline and creating even more challenging conditions for the players.
The slower conditions were clearly evident during American star and fifth seed Taylor Fritz’s third-round clash against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, with both players giving their all to claim the win. Perricard prevailed in straight sets, but Fritz later expressed frustration with the sluggish court speed.
Another player visibly affected by Shanghai’s scorching heat and humidity was French qualifier Valentin Royer. He began his main-draw campaign with a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Mariano Navone, but alarm bells were raised when he suddenly fainted shortly after the match. Royer later explained the incident, attributing it to insufficient hydration amid the harsh conditions.
Another instance unfolded during eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti’s second-round clash with Argentina’s Francisco Comesana. The Argentine struggled physically, trailing 5-0 in the second set, bowing his head during a changeover, and later sitting down, breathing heavily. Musetti responded with a heartfelt gesture, checking on him and offering an ice towel.
