Sinner faces former finalist in Beijing opener
Jannik Sinner will face Marin Cilic at the China Open in his first appearance since his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz. The top-seeded Italian leads the field in Beijing and learned his fate following Tuesday’s draw.
Sinner has fond memories at the ATP 500 hard-court event, having lifted the trophy in 2023. The 24-year-old, 37-5 on the season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, will meet 2011 finalist Cilic in his opener and could play home wild card Zhang Zhizhen in the second round.
World No. 10 Karen Khachanov is Sinner’s seeded quarter-final opponent and he might face third seed Alex de Minaur or seventh seed Jakub Mensik in the semi-finals. De Minaur, chasing his second ATP 500 title of the season (Washington), begins against China’s Buyunchaokete, while Miami titlist Mensik plays Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
In the bottom half, second seed Alexander Zverev takes on Lorenzo Sonego in the first round and could renew his rivalry with Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals. Medvedev, who starts against Cameron Norrie, leads Zverev 13-7 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Medvedev reached the final in Beijing in 2023 and Zverev is a three-time semi-finalist.
Fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti and sixth seed Andrey Rublev are also in Zverev’s half alongside Alexander Bublik. Musetti, who is in the final in Chengdu, meets big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round and Rublev takes on Flavio Cobolli. Musetti, Rublev, and Bublik will seek deep runs in China to boost their Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes.
#NextGenATP stars Shang Juncheng and Learner Tien are in the draw. Chinese wild card Shang continues his comeback from injury against a qualifier and Tien takes on Francisco Cerundolo. The ATP 500 event runs from 25 September to 1 October.
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