Beijing QF previews and predictions: Sinner vs. Lehecka, Medvedev vs. Cobolli

Jannik Sinner has had no easy time advancing this week in Beijing, but he is into the quarterfinals and will face Jiri Lehecka on Monday. Daniil Medvedev and Flavio Cobolli are also aiming for a place in the last four.

(1) Jannik Sinner vs. Jiri Lehecka

Sinner will try to learn from his mistakes and get off to a fast start when he goes up against Lehecka in the China Open quarterfinals on Monday. The world No. 1 dropped the opening set in each of his first two matches but still managed to overcome both Nicolas Jarry and Roman Safiullin without too much trouble.

On the bright side for Sinner, he has never had any trouble against Lehecka. The Italian has dominated both of their previous encounters–6-4, 6-2 at a clay-court Challenger event in 2019 and 6-3, 6-3 earlier this season at the Indian Wells Masters. Lehecka has done well to defeat Pedro Martinez and Roberto Bautista Agut so far in Beijing, but that is a dream draw for an ATP 500 tournament. The 37th-ranked Czech’s good fortune obviously ends with Sinner on the other side of the net–and his week will likely end, too.

Pick: Sinner in 2

Flavio Cobolli vs. (3) Daniil Medvedev

Medvedev and Cobolli will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers and for the second time in less than a month. They just squared off in round three of the U.S. Open, where Medvedev cruised 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. More of the same should be in store, because the fifth-ranked Russian is still playing well and has thrived during the fall swing throughout his career. Medvedev’s Asian swing is off to a fine start with Beijing victories over French veterans Gael Monfils and Adrian Mannarino.

Cobolli is coming down the stretch of a breakthrough season on tour. The 22-year-old has earned 33 of his 39 lifetime main-tour match wins in 2024 and his up to 32nd in the rankings–putting himself in position to be seeded at Grand Slams. Cobolli is through to the Beijing quarters thanks to victories over Alexander Bublik (in a third-set tiebreaker) and Pavel Kotov (6-4, 6-2). Unfortunately for the Italian, he actually played very well against Medvedev in New York and still lost in routine straight sets.

Pick: Medvedev in 2