"I think it was more of a mental thing" - Jannik Sinner opens up on cramps that led to retirement at Shanghai Masters

Former World No.1 Jannik Sinner was forced to retire during his third round match at the Shanghai Open, but seems to have put it behind him and recently attributed the incident to his mental state at the time.

Sinner is set to compete at the Six Kings Slam, which kicks off on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 in Saudi Arabia. The elite event features six top ATP stars battling it out for bragging rights and an impressive prize money pool with $6million going to the winner.

Prior to his opening match against Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sinner broke his silence on the cramping incident in Shanghai that saw him helped off the court. The Italian revealed the cramps were a combination of the intense humidity and his mindset at the time.

"I think it was more of a mental thing, and mentally I wasn't perfect," said Sinner in an interview with Cronache di Spogliatoio. "We talked to my team. The behavior wasn't good, so, if you combine all these things plus the humid heat, in the end it took me down and I felt it physically. It was my mistake, but you learn from things. Cramps can happen, they didn't just happen to me: I was one of many, but let's say everything is fine."

The reigning Wimbledon champion assured fans he had overcome the after-effects of the cramp and was looking forward to ending his 2025 season on a strong note.

"I took two days off and then we got back to work," he continued. "I feel good physically and mentally, we're ready here and for the next tournaments, Vienna, Paris, Turin, and we hope to finish the year on a high note."

Sinner had been scheduled to compete at the upcoming Vienna Open, which kicks off on October 20. The Italian has now confirmed his participation for the Paris Masters, a mandatory ATP Masters event, and the year-ending ATP Finals, where he is the defending champion.