Jasmine Paolini Makes ‘Dying on Court’ Remark After Jannik Sinner’s Retirement in Shanghai Due to Cramps
Jannik Sinner will next be seen in action at the Six Kings Slam, where he will aim to defend the title.
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Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini (via X/Jannik Sinner Times/The Tennis Letter)
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Jannik Sinner‘s Shanghai Masters campaign ended in a complete disaster. After winning his opening-round match in straight sets to kick-start his title defense, Sinner dropped the second set while he was clashing with Tallon Griekspoor in the third round. Sinner struggled to play to his full potential as he was dealing with severe cramps, which, in the end, forced him to throw in the towel as he limped off the court with the help of a physio.
His compatriot Jasmine Paolini is in Wuhan for the final WTA 1000 tournament of the season. At a press conference, she made her feelings known on the problem that players, mostly the ATP ones are dealing with: extreme humidity.
I think what we saw in Shanghai with Jannik was really, really hot, and then it can happen. When it’s too humid and too hot, it’s something that can happen, you know, to everybody.
The WTA has a rule where matches can be suspended if the temperature gets too high. The ATP, which doesn’t have such a rule, is thinking of bringing a heat rule to avoid after the mid-match retirements of several players. Tournament’s most successful player, Novak Djokovic, threw up on multiple occasions and also collapsed on the court for half a minute.
It’s not easy, because every year the weather changes. I feel like last year here was okay, and this year also, in the outside court, it’s so hot. I’m glad that we have the rules that if it’s too hot and too humid, we stop playing, because nobody wants to, you know, to see people dying on the court.
Jasmine Paolini added
Shanghai Masters was the sixth title the four-time Grand Slam champion failed to defend this year, and this made his task of reclaiming the No.1 ranking from arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz tough, given that the Spaniard now has a 1000-plus point lead. Alcaraz, who skipped the Shanghai Masters because of an ankle injury he suffered during his maiden appearance at the Japan Open, dethroned Sinner from the No.1 ranking after clinching the US Open title.
Taylor Fritz backed to challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Dr. Mark Kovacs, a performance physiologist and sport technology consultant, recently made an appearance in The Inside-In Tennis Podcast where he talked about the player he thinks can challenge Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz in the years to come. Kovacs backed Taylor Fritz to become the third guy in the rivalry.
He’s now knocking on the door. If you’re going to say, ‘Who’s the player to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz right now?’, Taylor is right up there; he’s that third, fourth guy that is knocking on the door.
Fritz played three finals, winning the Stuttgart Open and the Eastbourne International, and lost at the Japan Open to Alcaraz. The Spaniard has clinched eight titles from 10 finals- the tour’s most successful player this year.
Sinner’s next goal is to defend the Six Kings Slam title to add another $6 million to his prize money. Last year in the exhibition event in Riyadh, he defeated Alcaraz and took home the staggering amount.
Following the Six Kings Slam, Sinner’s next goal will be to win the Vienna Open for the second time in his career. He won the ATP 500 title in 2023 by beating Daniil Medvedev, but skipped it last year.
It is yet to be seen whether the 24-year-old will feature at the Paris Masters, which he skipped last year. The Australian Open is the only title Sinner has defended this year. Now the ATP Finals is the only tournament left where the South Tyrol native will play as the defending champion.
Also read: Jessica Pegula Reacts to the Humid Conditions Players Are Struggling With at the Wuhan Open
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