Jannik Sinner bounced back impressively at the China Open as he clinched the title with a decisive win over the young American Learner Tien. Following his defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the US Open final last month, Sinner faced his rival again in a showdown that this time saw him on the winning side, triumphing with a score of 6-2, 6-2 in just 72 minutes.
This victory marked Sinner’s third title of the year, increasing his career total to an impressive 21. Having lost this title the previous year to Alcaraz, reclaiming it was crucial for the Italian, especially after Alcaraz secured the Tokyo tournament title just a day prior. Sinner’s performance showcased his resilience and determination to restore his position among the elite in men’s tennis.
The final was a learning experience for Tien, who at only 19 years of age, made his debut in a tour-level final. Despite showing promise, he struggled against Sinner, who delivered an overwhelming performance. Sinner’s statistics reflected his dominance, registering 24 winners against 16 unforced errors, while Tien managed only 11 winners compared to 18 unforced errors.
“It is a very, very special place for me,” Sinner expressed during the trophy presentation, singling out his team’s contributions, even as some members could not be present. He acknowledged their hard work and commitment, stating, “We will try to improve and push for more and let’s see what the rest of the season looks like. I am very happy to share this [trophy] with all of you.”
With this triumph, Sinner joins an elite group as only the third player, alongside Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to have won the ATP 500 event multiple times. His accomplishment further establishes him among the top players in the world, as he stands fourth in titles won this season. Carlos Alcaraz leads that race with eight titles, followed by Alexander Bublik with four and Luciano Darderi with three.
However, Sinner’s triumph also serves as a reminder of the competition he faces, trailing World No. 1 Alcaraz by a significant 2,590 points in the Race to Turin, which determines the qualifiers for the upcoming ATP Finals. Sinner’s next test will be at the Shanghai tournament, where he will take center stage, especially after Alcaraz had to withdraw due to an ankle injury sustained in Tokyo.
Following his performance in Beijing, Tien has climbed 16 spots in the world rankings to a new career-high of No. 36. He is also poised to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jedah for the second consecutive year, signaling a bright future ahead for the young American talent.
