Match Report
Sinner drops set in Atmane win, reaches Beijing QFs
De Minaur defeats Rinderknech in third-set tie-break
September 27, 2025
Getty Photos
Jannik Sinner in motion on Saturday in Beijing, the place he gained the title in 2023.
By Sam Jacot
Jannik Sinner overcame a mid-match scare in opposition to Terence Atmane on Saturday on the China Open, the place he ultimately broke the resistance of the French qualifier to earn a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 second-round win.
The Italian defeated Atmane with relative ease final month within the semi-finals in Cincinnati, the place the Frenchman had loved a breakthrough run to the final 4. Nevertheless, the highest seed in Beijing was pushed far tougher on the ATP 500 occasion.
After shedding a decent first set, Atmane broke Sinner’s serve thrice within the second set to degree, steadily dashing the World No. 2 together with his depth and precision. But the 23-year-old was unable to inflict only a sixth defeat of the season on Sinner, who upped his aggression within the decider to ultimately advance to his thirteenth consecutive hard-court quarter-final after two hours and 22 minutes.
“The sport fashion he performs is sort of distinctive and he’s a lefty and we don’t have so many. He is a superb, nice participant and has improved rather a lot once more since Cincinnati,” Sinner mentioned. “At this time he struggled a little bit bit within the third set with some cramp but it surely was a troublesome, tough second-round match. I used to be twice up with a break within the second set and I couldn’t use it, however that is the game and this occurs. Possibly the focus went down a little bit bit at occasions and a few nerves, however I’m very completely happy to be by means of to the subsequent spherical.”
The previous Beijing champion Sinner defeated Marin Cilic within the opening spherical in his first match since he misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz within the US Open last. The Italian ceded the No. 1 spot within the PIF ATP Rankings together with his defeat to the Spaniard however will goal to maintain tempo in his battle with rival Alcaraz for ATP Yr-Finish No. 1 introduced by PIF honours throughout the remaining months of the season. He trails the 22-year-old, who’s competing in Tokyo, by 2,590 factors within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin.
Sinner has gained his previous 61 matches on laborious courts in opposition to gamers outdoors the Prime 10 and can hope to increase that run when he meets World No. 57 Fabian Marozsan within the final eight. Marozsan defeated Alexandre Muller 6-3, 7-6(5) to succeed in the quarter-finals.
Earlier, Alex de Minaur clawed previous Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(2) to seal his spot within the quarter-finals in Beijing. The Australian has earned a Tour-leading 33 hard-court wins this yr and has now captured 15 victories at ATP 500 occasions in 2025, with solely Alcaraz (17) incomes extra, in keeping with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
De Minaur, who gained the title on the ATP 500 in Washington in July, is eighth within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin, occupying the ultimate qualification spot. The 26-year-old is aiming to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive yr. Subsequent up in Beijing, he’ll meet seventh seed Jakub Mensik or Frenchman Arthur Cazaux.
