Black day for Sinner in Shanghai: he retired due to injury against Griekspoor and was far from No. 1

A coup de effect. When the film seemed to have a linear script and without changes in sequences or movements, the special effects came in the most unexpected way. Everything indicated a certain ending: just as in love movies, in which the protagonists end up as a couple, in today’s tennis it seems that there is only one result for Jannik Sinner (2nd) —unless he faces Carlos Alcaraz—: the triumph. And in the Shanghai Masters 1000 was on track to advance to the round of 16. However, he suffered a fall, hit his right kneelowered its intensity and He ended up leaving almost unable to stand up.: it was a defeat against Tallon Griekspoor (32nd) 6-7 (3), 7-5, 3-2 and retirement due to injury.

For a set and a half, the Italian stood firm from the baseline and excelled with his serve: he had barely given his rival a chance to break, he had nailed nine aces and played with 75% of firsts (winning 79%), his biggest deficit of the season. Furthermore, he had only lost one point on the second serve. Thus, everything was difficult for the Dutchman, who was also posting good numbers in that statistic, but it was not enough for him to reverse a fate that seemed inevitable.

However, the moment came when a 180º turn was made: Sinner began to give signs of suffering. A lot of verbal exchange with his work team, very active paralinguistic communication (something unusual for him) and eloquent gestures of pain, holding his right knee. In that second set he saw his chances slip away: he failed to take advantage of three break points at 4-4 and then gave up his serve. He made many mistakes, had a hard time serving and could not bank more than four balls in an exchange. Not even the almost ten minutes of rest were enough for him to get back into the game.

Since then, he tried to continue but to no avail. He tried, he made an effort to finish the game, but he couldn’t. In fact, he limped constantly and even had to leave the field with help from the medical teamsince he couldn’t even support his leg.

Thus, Sinner will leave China with pain, concern for the future and the certainty that No. 1 is getting further awaysince he will not be able to successfully defend the title won last year. Griekspoor, for his part, ended the adverse streak with the San Candido native (he was 0-6) and will play in the next round against the surprising Monegasque Valentin Vacherot (202nd, Q).

All the action of the Shanghai Masters 1000 can be followed, live and exclusively, on Disney+ Premium Plan.