Ace Sinner exits Shanghai Masters as Nole battles on

Defending champion Jannik Sinner retired on Sunday from the Shanghai Masters after suffering from cramps in his third-round match against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor, easing the way for Novak Djokovic's shot at a record-extending fifth title.

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The 38-year-old Serb battled through to the last 16 with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, despite admitting that he had been "hanging by a rope" early in the match.

It was a sorry end for Sinner, who had been hoping this week to add to his China Open victory.

The world No.2 began to experience issues in the fourth game of the third set, trying doggedly to persevere before abandoning the match at 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 3-2. Sinner ended the fourth game crouched over in pain and limping around the court.

He tried to play through it but did not improve, hitting the ball into the net multiple times to provide an easy break for his opponent.

He could barely walk at the end of the fifth game and had to be helped to his chair before accepting reality and calling it quits. "[It was] a very unfortunate ending to what I thought was a high-quality match," Griekspoor said.