Jannik Sinner will be playing for the first time since the U.S. Open when he suits up at the China Open this week.
Following his four-set loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the final at Flushing Meadows, Sinner vowed to make changes in his game. The second-ranked Italian admitted during his post-match press conference that he had become too predictable–at least when Alcaraz is on the other side of the net. It remains to be seen, though, if any such changes will be on display in Beijing.
“It’s just a question of time,” Sinner explained. “Let’s see how long I take it. I don’t know how much I’m able to do it on actual match court because one thing is practice and one thing is match. Let’s see.
“Yeah, I’m very motivated. It’s great to work on something new, then we see how this ends up. We always try to move forward. One step in front is always better than two steps back. Let’s see what we can do.”
Sinner is the top seed in Beijing ahead of Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Lorenzo Musetti, Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev, Jakub Mensik, and Daniil Medvedev. The 24-year-old will get things started against Marin Cilic before possibly facing Terence Atmane in round two. Khachanov is a possible quarterfinal opponent for Sinner.
Medvedev has not won a title since May of 2023, a drought that includes a loss to Sinner in the final of this ATP 500 tournament in 2023. In two appearances, the 29-year-old Russian has never lost prior to the semis.
who ya got?
Sinner over Zverev although no shock if either lost earlier