Sinner receives shocking advice after withdrawing at Shanghai

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the 2025 Shanghai Masters has led to a controversial piece of advice that may upset many tennis fans.

Jannik Sinner was the 2024 Shanghai Masters champion after defeating Novak Djokovic in the final, performing excellently under the same court conditions. This year, with Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing, the Italian entered the tournament as the top contender.

However, the 2025 edition was held under much harsher conditions. Temperatures in Shanghai frequently reached 36°C, exhausting many players. Sinner was the most notable case, forced to retire in the third set against Tallon Griekspoor (round of 32) due to severe cramps that made normal movement impossible.

Italian commentator Guido Monaco — a former pro who never broke into the world’s top 700 — gave Sinner a surprising piece of advice: “Playing a tournament just days before and then competing in two matches consecutively under such extreme weather can completely drain the body.

Perhaps in the future, he should be a bit more strategic — asking for medical treatment at the first sign of trouble, citing a mild muscle strain for example. According to current rules, cramps are not considered an injury and cannot be treated.”

This advice completely contradicts Sinner’s playing style — he is well known for his sportsmanship and rarely complains on court. Alongside Carlos Alcaraz, he is regarded as one of the fairest players in tennis today.

In the 2025 Roland Garros final lasting over 5 hours and 29 minutes, neither player used tactical breaks, and both even corrected disputed calls in favor of their opponent. Even when the match tilted towards Alcaraz, Sinner was willing to forfeit advantages if he believed the referee made a wrong decision.

Therefore, it is almost unimaginable that he would follow Monaco’s advice. The 2025 Wimbledon champion will likely focus on improving his fitness and heat tolerance rather than trying to “game” the rules — especially since this is not the first time Sinner has been defeated by hot weather.