Sinner retires but Djokovic through in Shanghai

Tuesday, 7 October 2025 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Defending champion Jannik Sinner retired injured from the Shanghai Masters but last year’s runner-up Novak Djokovic battled back from a set down to reach the last 16.

Top seed Sinner suffered a leg injury in his third-round match against the Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor.

He began to experience issues in the fourth game of the third set, before deciding he could not continue when trailing 7-6 (7-3) 5-7 2-3.

The 24-year-old Italian was the overwhelming favourite to win the ATP 1,000 event for a second time after world number one Carlos Alcaraz announced his decision not to compete due to an injury he picked up in winning the Japan Open.

Sinner took the first set on a tie-break and missed the chance to take a foothold in the match when Griekspoor saved three break points early in the second set.

But it was the Dutchman who eventually gained the upper hand in the 11th game, breaking the world number two with a backhand winner.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Sinner ended the fourth game of the third set crouched over in pain, limping around the court.

He then hit a series of shots into the net to be broken in the fifth game and called it quits after being helped back to his chair.

Griekspoor, the 27th seed, will face French qualifier Valentin Vacherot in the next round after his opponent, 20th seed Tomas Machac, also retired injured.

Sinner was the second big name to bow out on Sunday, with fourth seed Taylor Fritz losing his third-round match 6-4 7-5 to Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

Djokovic said he showed “a lot of guts” to come back from a set down in humid conditions to beat inspired qualifier Yannik Hanfmann and reach the fourth round.

The 38-year-old Serb looked sluggish in the first set but recovered to win 4-6 7-5 6-3 in two hours and 42 minutes.

Djokovic will face unseeded Spaniard Jaume Munar in the last 16.