Shocking scenes unfolded at the 2025 Shanghai Masters as defending champion Jannik Sinner retired during his third-round clash with Tallon Griekspoor, succumbing to severe physical distress. The match had been fiercely contested, but Sinner’s struggles intensified in the third set, forcing him to hobble between points.
Griekspoor recently spoke at length about Sinner’s unfortunate retirement and shared his honest thoughts on the challenging conditions in the Chinese city.
What Did Tallon Griekspoor Say About Jannik Sinner’s ‘Unfortunate’ Shanghai Retirement?
The match was grueling from the start, with both players giving their all to stay in the contest. Sinner took the first set 7-6(3) in a tie-break, but Griekspoor bounced back to win the second 7-5. The World No. 2’s struggles began late in the second set and worsened in the decider, as he battled severe cramps in his right leg.
Sinner received medical attention, but his condition only worsened. Trailing 3-2 in the final set, he was forced to retire from the match and even required assistance to leave the court. Though the Italian’s retirement gave Griekspoor a spot in the fourth round, he wasn’t happy with the climax.
“Very unfortunate ending to what I thought was a high-quality match. I thought the first set we were both serving really, really well. Was not much to do on his serve and neither on mine,” he said in his post-match press conference.
The Dutchman said he was pleased with his performance in the second set but stood firm on his views regarding the match’s conclusion under the brutal conditions. He also wished Sinner a swift recovery.
“Just very happy, content with how I stayed in the second set. Got a little bit lucky by saving that Love-40 on 4-3. Not the way you want to win, brutal conditions here. I wasn’t really fresh either myself. Yeah, I wish him a speedy recovery, and hopefully we see him back very soon,” he added.
Later during his press conference, Griekspoor described the Shanghai conditions as extremely slow, likening the balls to “bowling balls,” especially at night. He said even players capable of hitting through the court found it very difficult as the balls aged during the match.
“The court is, the balls are extremely slow. The balls are like bowling balls, they’re so big, especially in the night. So, after a couple of games when they’re getting older there’s not much to do. Even though I think we’re both guys who can hit through the ball, through the court, but very, very difficult to do so here in the evening,” he said later.
The slower courts and sweltering conditions in Shanghai have sparked major concerns, with many players visibly struggling. Four-time champion Novak Djokovic vomited during his third-round clash with Yannick Hanfmann, while others, including Terence Atmane, Holger Rune, and Taylor Fritz, were also heavily affected.