Humidity Overshadow the ATP Shanghai Masters

The Asian Swing has long been one of the most vibrant stretches on the tennis calendar, a celebration of sport filled with passionate fans, sold-out arenas, and an electric atmosphere. The Shanghai Masters is one of the crown jewels of this swing, attracting the world’s best players year after year.

Yet this season, the tournament has faced an unusual wave of challenges. With a packed ATP schedule, rising global temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns affecting conditions, the event has turned into a battle of endurance rather than just skill.

Withdrawals Hit the Shanghai Draw Hard

Carlos Alcaraz sustained an ankle injury during his title run in Tokyo, and with little time to recover before Shanghai, the 22-year-old and his team decided to withdraw from the Masters 1000 event. The six-time Grand Slam champion apologised to Chinese fans and expressed hope to return next year, but losing arguably the most popular player in tennis was a major blow to the tournament.

Jack Draper’s absence was confirmed weeks earlier, as the Briton ended his season due to a recurring arm injury, the same issue that forced him out of much of the US Open swing. Stefanos Tsitsipas also pulled out of Shanghai shortly after, citing back pain and a leg problem. Grigor Dimitrov remains sidelined as well, still recovering from the muscle tear that forced him to retire during his Wimbledon match against Sinner. Tommy Paul joined the list of absentees, having struggled with a severe foot problem throughout the season.

The remaining withdrawals included Hubert Hurkacz, Arthur Fils, Roberto Bautista Agut, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alexei Popyrin, and Jacob Fearnley, along with teenage sensation Joao Fonseca, who opted to skip the event to focus on the indoor hard-court swing. Gael Monfils also announced his withdrawal after injuring his ankle at the Chengdu Open.

Retirements Pile Up Mid-Tournament

Just when the tournament seemed to have faced the worst of its misfortune, world #2 and top seed Jannik Sinner had to retire mid-match from his third-round contest due to severe right leg cramps, likely caused by dehydration from the high humidity levels all week.

But despite this being the most significant mid-match retirement in the context of the tournament, it was far from the only one. Both local player Yibing Wu and Terence Atmane fell in the first round, the latter due to a possible panic attack on court. In the same round, despite being up a set, Hamad Medjedovic also had to retire.

That still wasn’t all, with Casper Ruud falling to a wrist injury. David Goffin, after beating Ben Shelton in his second-round match, and Tomas Machac also followed suit, struggling to move during their matches and eventually having to pull the plug on their tournaments. In total, seven players have had to retire mid-match in Shanghai so far, as the pressure on the tour to make changes to what is a hectic 11-month-long season continues to grow.

Injury and Fatigue Concerns Mount

Beyond the retirements, several stars are visibly struggling to stay fresh. Taylor Fritz, Holger Rune, and Alexander Zverev have all expressed concerns about fatigue, with lingering injuries casting uncertainty over their performances.

Fritz, who had been playing some of his best tennis recently, looked noticeably hampered in his third-round loss, struggling to maintain intensity in the humid conditions. Zverev’s issue didn’t appear too serious, but he too lost his following match, unable to find his usual rhythm.

Even Novak Djokovic, usually a model of endurance, appeared to suffer under the Shanghai heat. The four-time champion in Shanghai was seen vomiting courtside during his last match, a rare sight that highlights just how grueling the conditions have been.

It is a reminder that Djokovic himself was one of the prominent players to oppose the new two-week Masters format earlier this year, calling for the tour to make changes.

A Wake-Up Call?

The 2025 Shanghai Masters has once again demonstrated why fans across Asia are among the most passionate in the world — but it has also highlighted a growing issue in tennis. As the season gets longer and conditions tougher, managing player welfare is becoming as crucial as the matches themselves. With star players dropping out of the biggest tournaments on tour, and both Iga Swiatek and Alcaraz openly not only criticizing the scheduling but calling for changes, this might finally be the wake-up call organizers need.