ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner’s Beijing journey: Triumph, heartbreak & unfinished enterprise
Italian, who received the title on his debut in 2023, owns a 9-1 event file
September 20, 2025
WANG ZHAO/Getty Photos
Jannik Sinner will make his third look on the China Open in 2025.
By ATP Employees
Jannik Sinner’s story on the China Open in Beijing has been one in all glory, ache, and promise nonetheless to be fulfilled.
After saying himself on Chinese language soil with a blinding title run on his debut in 2023, the Italian returned the next yr to achieve one other closing, solely to fall quick in an unforgettable showdown with Carlos Alcaraz that showcased the perfect of their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry. That defeat stung, but it surely additionally planted the seeds for future success.
Now, because the No. 2 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner returns with renewed dedication and the arrogance of a participant who has already conquered Beijing. Forward of the 2025 version, ATPTour.com revisits his journey on the ATP 500 occasion.
2023: Dream DebutAfter a shocking run throughout the 2023 season, highlighted by his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, Sinner arrived in Beijing as a longtime High 10 participant brimming with confidence. The then-22-year-old’s degree rose even additional that week.
He prevailed over Daniel Evans and Grigor Dimitrov in three units, both aspect of a commanding win in opposition to Yoshihito Nishioka, to guide a semi-final in opposition to Alcaraz. In a conflict that underlined the rising intrigue of their rivalry, Sinner raced to a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory to maneuver forward 4-3 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence.
From there, Sinner carried that momentum into the championship match in opposition to Daniil Medvedev, who had defeated him six straight occasions, together with earlier that season within the Miami closing. On this event, Sinner held his floor throughout two tie-breaks to seize his maiden Beijing crown and cement his debut contained in the High 5 within the PIF ATP Rankings.
“Daniil, thanks for letting me win a minimum of one match,” Sinner joked in the course of the trophy ceremony. “We now have had some very robust battles, particularly this yr. Thanks for making me a a lot better participant. I’ve been coaching lots to beat you. My group are working lots. Thanks very a lot and it’s particular to share this second with you.”
Watch Beijing 2023 Last Highlights:
2024: Rivalry and ResolveBy the 2024 Asian swing, Sinner had established himself as the primary Italian to achieve No. 1 within the PIF ATP Rankings and was a dominant menace on exhausting courts. In Beijing, nevertheless, his path was something however easy.
He needed to rally from a set down in every of his opening two matches in opposition to Nicolas Jarry and Roman Safiullin earlier than discovering his stride and surging right into a second consecutive closing. There, a well-known rival awaited as soon as once more: Alcaraz, and their newest encounter lived as much as the billing.
The pair traded jaw-dropping exchanges throughout three pulsating units, and Sinner appeared on the verge of efficiently defending his crown when he raced to a 3/0 lead within the final-set tie-break. But Alcaraz stormed again, reeling off seven consecutive factors to grab the title and notch his third straight win over the Italian.
“It’s at all times good to be a part of these sorts of matches. Clearly disenchanted it did not go my approach. These sorts of matches can actually go each methods. But it surely was not my day,” Sinner stated. “He performed higher in necessary moments. That is it. I am proud once more of an ideal week, making finals right here. Final yr I received right here. For positive it is a spot the place I like to play, so I am already wanting ahead to subsequent yr.”
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz” type=”width:100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/photographs/information/2025/09/19/16/11/sinner-alcaraz-beijing-tournament-feature-2025.jpg”>Jannik Sinner poses with Carlos Alcaraz after their three-set Beijing closing in 2024. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Photos.
2025: Beijing Bounceback?Two years on from his maiden triumph and 12 months faraway from the heartbreak of his closing defeat, Sinner returns to Beijing with new motivation — and below new circumstances. The 24-year-old will compete for the primary time since his 65-week reign as World No. 1 ended after the US Open closing, when he ceded high spot to Alcaraz.
Sinner boasts a glowing 9-1 file on the China Open, based on the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, a testomony to his consolation on Beijing’s exhausting courts. With a second title, he would be part of file six-time champion Novak Djokovic and two-time winner Rafael Nadal as the one males to win a number of crowns on the occasion.
But the street to redemption stays daunting. This yr’s draw contains fellow High 10 stars Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti.
