Pakistan, Oct. 6 -- SHANGHAI - Defending champion Jannik Sinner retired from the Shanghai Masters on Sunday after suffering cramps in his third-round match against the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor, paving the way for Novak Djokovic to continue his pursuit of a record-extending fifth title.

Sinner, world number two, began to experience issues in the fourth game of the third set, struggling to maintain his form before ultimately conceding at 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 3-2. He was visibly in pain, limping across the court and receiving assistance to reach his chair before calling it quits. "(It was) a very unfortunate ending to what I thought was a high-quality match," Griekspoor said. "Not the way you want to win - brutal conditions here. I wish hi...