Tennis News

Sinner sinks Tien, wins third title of season in Beijing

Jannik Sinner bounced back from US Open disappointment by returning to the winner’s circle on Wednesday at the China Open in Beijing, where he overcame first-time tour-level finalist Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 to clinch his third title of the season.

Less than four weeks after losing the final to Carlos Alcaraz in New York and with it top spot in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner remained the last man standing at a tour-level event for the 21st time in his career.

In his first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting with Tien, Sinner dominated from start to finish to ensure the #NextGenATP 19-year-old American would not become the second-youngest champion in tournament history. The Italian had a shot quality of 8.8 on his forehand and dictated points through the middle of the court, pulling Tien out of position with his aggressive striking into the corners to earn victory after 72 minutes.

“It is a very, very special place for me,” Sinner said during the trophy presentation. “My team, thanks for understanding and working with me. Not all the team is here, so hopefully the rest are watching from home. Thanks for working with me and we will try to improve and push for more and let’s see what the rest of the season looks like, but I am very happy to share this [trophy] with all of you.”

Back on top in Beijing 👑@janniksin defeats Tien 6-2 6-2 to reclaim his @chinaopen crown.#2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/rTJrIOktLf

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 1, 2025

Sinner triumphed in Beijing in 2023 and is just the third player, alongside Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to win the ATP 500 on multiple occasions. The 24-year-old, who won majors at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, is the fourth player in 2025 to win three or more titles. Alcaraz leads the way with eight crowns.

Sinner leaves Beijing trailing World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz by 2,590 points in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, which acts as a barometer for ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours. Alcaraz clinched the trophy in Tokyo on Tuesday, meaning it is the first time since 2020 that the World No. 1 and No. 2 have both won titles in the same week (Djokovic, Dubai; Nadal, Acapulco).

Sinner next heads to Shanghai, where he will lead the field after Alcaraz was forced to withdraw due to an ankle injury he sustained at the ATP 500 event in Tokyo.

Tien is up 16 spots to No. 36 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and will rise to a career-high. He is also set to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year. The lefty is second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah. He defeated Lorenzo Musetti and Daniil Medvedev en route to the final and holds a 7-5 career record against Top 20 players.

Sinner struck 24 winners to 16 unforced errors, while Tien hit just 11 winners compared to 18 unforced errors. The Italian also saved both break points he faced and won 73 per cent (8/11) of points at the net, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

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Heliovaara/Patten capture Beijing title

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten clinched their second tour-level title of the season on Wednesday at the China Open, where they clawed past singles stars Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.

The third seeds did not drop a set en route to the final in Beijing and then in the final raised their level from 6/6 in the Match Tie-break, winning three consecutive points before converting on their third championship point to triumph after 90 minutes.

“Winning tournaments is what we do, that’s why we practice, we put the hard work in,” Heliovaara said. “Our family is at home, missing them. This makes it all worth it.

“We can really enjoy this. Just remind ourselves this was not a small tournament we just won. This is a big one with most of the top teams in the draw. We ended up here with the trophy. We can be very, very proud of ourselves.”

With their victory, the Finnish-British team qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year. They are the fourth pair to qualify for the prestigious year-end event, to be held in Turin from 9-16 November. Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic will also compete in Turin.

Earlier this season, Heliovaara and Patten clinched their second major as a team at the Australian Open. Heliovaara, 36, is now 10-10 in tour-level finals, winning two at ATP 500 level, while Patten, 29, holds a 6-4 record in championship matches, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“It’s been a while since we’ve won a tournament,” Patten added. “It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of disappointing results. We’ve been pretty close. So we’re extremely excited.”

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Heliovaara & Patten qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals

Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten have qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year following their victory at the China Open in Beijing.

Last year, Heliovaara and Patten began their partnership during the clay-court season and still battled their way to Turin. In their first full year together, they have replicated their feat and will compete at the season finale from 9-16 November.

After triumphing at Wimbledon in 2024, Heliovaara and Patten claimed more major glory at this year’s Australian Open, where they clawed through three-set clashes in the semi-finals and final to lift the trophy. The Melbourne champions also have now triumphed in Beijing and made the final in Dubai.

They showed consistency throughout the season, advancing to eight additional semi-finals, including three at ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami, Monte-Carlo and Rome.

Heliovaara competed in the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time in 2022 with Lloyd Glasspool. Patten has only played in the year-end championships with Heliovaara.

Four teams have now qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals, with Heliovaara and Patten joining Julian Cash/Lloyd Glasspool, Marcel Granollers/Horacio Zeballos and Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic. Four places remain in the season finale.

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Martin Freeman leads this festive Hollywood rendition of the Nativity!

A teacher (Martin Freeman) is put in charge of his school’s version of the Nativity.

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What is the Shanghai tennis schedule?

The Rolex Shanghai Masters begins on Wednesday, with home hope Zhang Zhizhen and three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka among those in action.

Former No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings, David Goffin, 2019 semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini and Marin Cilic will also compete on Day 1 of the Chinese ATP Masters 1000 event.

View Wednesday’s full schedule below…

ORDER OF PLAY – WEDNESDAY, 01 OCTOBER 2025
Stadium Court – start 12:30 PM

Followed By
David Goffin (BEL) vs Alexandre Muller (FRA)
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs Matteo Berrettini (ITA)

Not Before 6:30 PM
[WC] Zhizhen Zhang (CHN) vs Sebastian Baez (ARG)
Fabian Marozsan (HUN) vs [WC] Stan Wawrinka (SUI)

Grandstand 2 – start 12:30 PM

Followed By
Jaume Munar (ESP) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN)
Marin Cilic (CRO) vs [Q] Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
Sebastian Korda (USA) vs Zizou Bergs (BEL)
Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) vs [Q] Yannick Hanfmann (GER)

Show Court 3 – start 12:30 PM
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) vs Luca Nardi (ITA)

Not Before 2:00 PM
[Q] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) vs Daniel Altmaier (GER)
[Q] Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) vs Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ)

Court 4 – start 12:30 PM
Adam Walton (AUS) vs Mattia Bellucci (ITA)

Not Before 2:00 PM
Jordan Thompson (AUS) vs [Q] August Holmgren (DEN)
Laslo Djere (SRB) vs [Q] Valentin Vacherot (MON)

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Alcaraz withdraws from Shanghai due to left ankle injury

Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from the Rolex Shanghai Masters due to a left ankle injury.

Despite hurting his ankle in his opening Tokyo match against Sebastian Baez, Alcaraz pushed on to lift the trophy for his ATP Tour-leading eighth title of the season. The 22-year-old’s 67 match wins are the most he has earned in a season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“I’m very disappointed to announce that I won’t be able to play the Rolex Shanghai Masters this year!” Alcaraz wrote on Instagram Stories. “Unfortunately, I’ve been struggling with some physical issues and, after discussing with my team, we believe the best decision is to rest and recover. I was really looking forward to playing in front of the amazing fans in Shanghai again. I hope to be back soon and see my Chinese fans next year!”

A message from Carlitos.

Hopefully see you next year @carlosalcaraz 🙏#RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/GW4G9dAgfZ

— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) September 30, 2025

With the Spaniard’s withdrawal, the next player to be seeded, Corentin Moutet, becomes the 33rd seed and takes Alcaraz’s place atop the draw. The Frenchman will face Beijing finalist Learner Tien or Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round. 

Jannik Sinner, the No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, is now the highest-ranked player in the Shanghai field. The Italian is in the bottom half of the draw and will play Daniel Altmaier or a qualifier/lucky loser in his opening match.

Read More From Shanghai
Shelton on shoulder recovery: ‘I wouldn’t show up unless I thought I was ready’
History-maker Zhang ready to reignite in Shanghai
[NEWSLETTER FORM]

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Djokovic arrives at the Rolex Shanghai Masters

Novak Djokovic arrived at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Tuesday in good spirits ahead of his return to competition for the first time in four weeks.

The record four-time Shanghai champion owns a 39-6 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, with his last appearance coming in last year’s final, where he fell to Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic could meet the Italian in the semi-finals this year, following Monday’s official draw. But for now, he is happy to be back at one of his most successful stops on the ATP Tour.

“My first [Nitto ATP Finals] was here back in 2007,” Djokovic said of the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena in Shanghai, now home of the ATP Masters 1000 event. “Amazing facility, a very different type of comfort that top players experience here to other tournaments in this category, with having your own locker room, your own private space… It makes a difference.”

Seeded fourth, Djokovic will open his title bid in Shanghai against Marin Cilic or a qualifier / lucky loser in the second round. The Serbian saved five championship points in a thrilling 2012 final against Andy Murray to win his first title at the prestigious event.

Djokovic, the record seven-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, is fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. He is returning to competition in Shanghai for the first time since reaching the semi-finals at the US Open earlier this month.

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History-maker Zhang ready to reignite in Shanghai

Back on court and growing in belief, Zhang Zhizhen returns to his hometown this fortnight for the Rolex Shanghai Masters, eager to rekindle the magic that made him a history-maker just two years ago.

Zhang was sidelined for six months this year with a shoulder issue, but is fit again now and ready to return to a venue steeped in personal and national significance.

Zhang’s rise hit new heights in 2023, a breakthrough year in which the Shanghai native rewrote the record books for Chinese tennis. He became the first Chinese man to reach the quarter-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid, later soaring to a then-career-high No. 52 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

His run continued on the Grand Slam stage at the US Open, where he stunned Casper Ruud to become the first man from China to topple a Top 5 opponent.

The dream summer led him to Shanghai, where the hometown hero fed off local support to surge into the fourth round, another national first at this level. He overcame Richard Gasquet, Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Brandon Nakashima before falling to eventual champion Hubert Hurkacz.

“If people are watching us do something and then trying to follow us, that’s great news for us,” Zhang told ATPTour.com earlier this season. “Most Chinese people are watching table tennis or badminton at the Olympics, not tennis. But suddenly they’re watching live on TV.

“Right away, more people are knowing us and more people are trying to play, trying to learn. That’s really good.”

Watch Zhang Defeat Nakashima To Make Shanghai History In 2023:

Zhang’s efforts have laid a powerful foundation for the next generation. In 2024, Zhang broke into the Top 50, climbing to No. 31, a new high-water mark for Chinese men’s tennis. He also reached his maiden ATP Tour final in Hangzhou and advanced to another Masters 1000 quarter-final in Rome.

Now 28, Zhang is eyeing a strong finish to 2025 after returning to Tour earlier this month in Hangzhou with a confidence-boosting win over countryman Buyunchaokete. And there’s no better place to continue that comeback than in Shanghai.

He won’t be alone at the hard-court tournament. Zhang leads a strong Chinese contingent into the season’s penultimate Masters 1000 event, where he will be joined by countrymen Shang Juncheng, Wu Yibing and Zhou Yi.

#NextGenATP Shang is also rebuilding after a six-month layoff due to a foot injury. The 20-year-old lefty made a splash last season by winning his first ATP title in Chengdu, reaching a career-high No. 47. Last year, Shang reached the second round in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, Wu continues his own resurgence. The 25-year-old, who made history at the 2023 Dallas Open as China’s first ATP Tour titlist, reached the semi-finals in Hangzhou earlier this month and captured his sixth ATP Challenger title in June. In 2024, he enjoyed a third-round run on home soil in Shanghai.

“It means everything, especially at home,” Wu said after his Hangzhou run. “It’s been a long couple of years. I’ve had to fight through so much physically. Winning three matches in a row here really meant a lot.”

Defending champion Jannik Sinner, World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and Serbian Novak Djokovic lead a stacked field in Shanghai, where the tournament runs from 1-12 October.

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'Too old for mind games' – Gauff and Bencic clash

French Open champion Coco Gauff comes through an on-court clash with opponent Belinda Bencic to reach the China Open quarter-finals.

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Tien advances to first ATP Tour final after Medvedev retires in Beijing

Learner Tien advanced to his first ATP Tour title match on Tuesday at the China Open in Beijing, where he became the second-youngest finalist in tournament history. The 19-year-old rallied from 3-5 down in the second set against Daniil Medvedev, eventually advancing 5-7, 7-5, 4-0 after the 29-year-old was forced to retire due to injury.

The #NextGenATP American Tien was competing in his maiden tour-level semi-final and looked down and out when he trailed 1-4 and 3-5 in the second set. However, he capitalised on some Medvedev errors in the closing stages of the second set and then benefited from the 29-year-old’s lack of movement in the decider to advance after two hours and 26 minutes. Medvedev struggled to track down the balls in the third set, seemingly cramping.

“I was down 3-5 and 2-4 in the second and clawed my way back,” Tien said. “I didn’t think anything was wrong with him and then he came out of the bathroom break kind of limping, so I was not sure if he was cramping or if he was injured as he had tape on his leg. I think it was cramping and I have been there and it is not fun. All the best to him and it is not how you want to come through a match but I am happy to be in the final.”

Sinner vs Tien For The Title! 🏆

Who takes home the crown?@ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/iB3QwMWwMc

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 30, 2025

Tien now holds a 7-5 record against Top 20 players and is 2-0 against Medvedev in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, having beaten the former World No. 1 at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Tien is up 16 spots to No. 36 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is also set to qualify for the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF for the second consecutive year. The lefty is second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

Tien will meet World No. 2 Jannik Sinner in the Beijing title match on Wednesday. Tien is the second-youngest finalist in Beijing history behind Rafael Nadal, while he is the third-youngest tour-level finalist this season. Only Miami winner Jakub Mensik and Buenos Aires champion Joao Fonseca were younger.

Medvedev struggled with his movement in the third set and had taping on his right knee. The World No. 18 was aiming to reach his second final of the year and first on hard courts since Indian Wells in March 2024.

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