Jannik Sinner's Beijing journey: Triumph, heartbreak & unfinished business
Jannik Sinner’s story at the China Open in Beijing has been one of glory, pain, and promise still to be fulfilled.
After announcing himself on Chinese soil with a dazzling title run on his debut in 2023, the Italian returned the following year to reach another final, only to fall short in an unforgettable showdown with Carlos Alcaraz that showcased the very best of their Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry. That defeat stung, but it also planted the seeds for future success.
Now, as the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner returns with renewed determination and the confidence of a player who has already conquered Beijing. Ahead of the 2025 edition, ATPTour.com revisits his journey at the ATP 500 event.
2023: Dream Debut
After a stunning run across the 2023 season, highlighted by his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Toronto, Sinner arrived in Beijing as an established Top 10 player brimming with confidence. The then-22-year-old’s level rose even further that week.
He prevailed over Daniel Evans and Grigor Dimitrov in three sets, either side of a commanding win against Yoshihito Nishioka, to book a semi-final against Alcaraz. In a clash that underlined the growing intrigue of their rivalry, Sinner raced to a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory to move ahead 4-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
From there, Sinner carried that momentum into the championship match against Daniil Medvedev, who had defeated him six straight times, including earlier that season in the Miami final. On this occasion, Sinner held his ground across two tie-breaks to capture his maiden Beijing crown and cement his debut inside the Top 5 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
“Daniil, thanks for letting me win at least one match,” Sinner joked during the trophy ceremony. “We have had some very tough battles, especially this year. Thanks for making me a much better player. I have been training a lot to beat you. My team are working a lot. Thank you very much and it is special to share this moment with you.”
Watch Beijing 2023 Final Highlights:
2024: Rivalry and Resolve
By the 2024 Asian swing, Sinner had established himself as the first Italian to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings and was a dominant threat on hard courts. In Beijing, however, his path was anything but straightforward.
He had to rally from a set down in each of his opening two matches against Nicolas Jarry and Roman Safiullin before finding his stride and surging into a second consecutive final. There, a familiar rival awaited once again: Alcaraz, and their latest encounter lived up to the billing.
The pair traded jaw-dropping exchanges across three pulsating sets, and Sinner appeared on the verge of successfully defending his crown when he raced to a 3/0 lead in the final-set tie-break. Yet Alcaraz stormed back, reeling off seven consecutive points to snatch the title and notch his third straight win over the Italian.
“It’s always nice to be part of these kinds of matches. Obviously disappointed it didn’t go my way. These kinds of matches can really go both ways. But it was not my day,” Sinner said. “He played better in important moments. That’s it. I’m proud again of a great week, making finals here. Last year I won here. For sure it’s a place where I love to play, so I’m already looking forward to next year.”
<img alt=”Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz” style=”width:100%;” src=”/-/media/images/news/2025/09/19/16/11/sinner-alcaraz-beijing-tournament-feature-2025.jpg” />Jannik Sinner poses with Carlos Alcaraz after their three-set Beijing final in 2024. Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images.
2025: Beijing Bounceback?
Two years on from his maiden triumph and 12 months removed from the heartbreak of his final defeat, Sinner returns to Beijing with new motivation — and under new circumstances. The 24-year-old will compete for the first time since his 65-week reign as World No. 1 ended after the US Open final, when he ceded top spot to Alcaraz.
Sinner boasts a sparkling 9-1 record at the China Open, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, a testament to his comfort on Beijing’s hard courts. With a second title, he would join record six-time champion Novak Djokovic and two-time winner Rafael Nadal as the only men to win multiple crowns at the event.
Yet the road to redemption remains daunting. This year’s draw includes fellow Top 10 stars Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti.
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