Just when it seemed Jannik Sinner was an unstoppable force, a human moment brought his high-flying run to a screeching halt. The defending Shanghai Masters champion, fresh off a dominant victory at the China Open, was forced to retire from his third-round match against Tallon Griekspoor, visibly hobbled and in pain. It was a brutal, anticlimactic end to what was shaping up to be another signature week for the Italian superstar.

The air in Shanghai was thick and humid, and after nearly three hours of grueling tennis, it finally took its toll. Sinner, who had been painting lines and crushing serves, suddenly looked mortal. A noticeable limp appeared late in the second set, a ghost in his usually fluid movement. Between points, he’d massage his right thigh, a clear sign of distress. By the t

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