'Act more maliciously': Jannik Sinner given shocking advice after Shanghai retirement
NewsThursday, 09 October 2025 at 12:13
Jannik Sinner's latest retirement led to him receiving some guidance that will not sit well with many tennis fans.
Sinner won the 2024 Shanghai Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. He had no issue handling the conditions during that run and started this year's iteration as an overwhelming favorite after Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal.
However, the 2025 edition has been played in more brutal conditions than 12 months ago. Temperatures have reached 36 degrees Celsius, leading to multiple incidents of players struggling in the heat.
Sinner's retirement was the most notable of those incidents. In the third set of his round of 32 match against Tallon Griekspoor, the ATP world No. 2 retired after cramping so severely that he could not walk properly.
Guido Monaco never cracked the Top 700 during his playing career, but he has become a regular commentator and analyst for Eurosport. The Italian gave Sinner some controversial advice for the next time he cramps.
"It is entirely possible that after playing a tournament a few days earlier and two consecutive matches in another tournament with little time to recover, such a situation could arise in this climate."
"Perhaps in the future, he could act more maliciously, requesting a medical timeout at the first signs and justifying this with a small contracture. Indeed, according to the rules, cramps are not considered an injury and cannot be treated."
Monaco's approach would be against Sinner's natural persona. The four-time Grand Slam champion is known for being one of the least dramatic players and always trying to be fair against any opponent.
Sinner and Alcaraz's sportsmanship in their rivalry is among the best ever seen in sport. During their extraordinary five hours and 29 minutes in the 2025 French Open final, neither man took a tactical bathroom break.
In addition, the umpire barely had to get out of his chair because both men overruled calls in their opponent's favor. That included Sinner doing it when the match was swinging back in Alcaraz's favor, showing his commitment to fair play at all times.
Those actions make it unlikely that Sinner would ever take Monaco's approach. The 2025 Wimbledon winner will be more focused on training to manage hot conditions better since this is not the first time he has retired in high temperatures.
Novak Djokovic also struggled in the conditions
During his battle with Yannick Hanfmann in Shanghai, Djokovic vomited twice; once at the back of the court and once beside his bag at the changeover. The Serbian still managed to fight through in three sets.
Djokovic's next match against Jaume Munar followed a similar pattern. After losing a very lengthy second set, the 24-time Grand Slam champion fell to the ground and lay on his back for about 15 seconds before getting up.
Once again, last year's Olympic Gold Medalist triumphed in the third set after increasing his aggression to shorten the points. Munar seemed fresher than the tennis legend, but was undone by his superior technical ability.
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