Beijing Final: Sinner Clinches Beijing Crown
On Wednesday in Beijing, Italian star Jannik Sinner returned to the winners’ circle at the China Open, defeating American teenager Lerner Tin in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to claim his third title of the season.
Less than four weeks after losing the final to Carlos Alcaraz in New York, and dropping from No. 1 in the world rankings, Sinner stood tall in Beijing to win his 21st career title.
In their first meeting, Sinner dominated from the start, ensuring the 19-year-old American would not become the second-youngest champion in the event’s history. The Italian’s forehand was sharp, and he controlled points from the middle of the court, pulling Tin wide to seal the win after 72 minutes. Tin fought his nerves early but could not find a footing, as Sinner mixed precise drop shots with heavy baseline rallies to keep him pinned.
During the trophy ceremony, Sinner described Beijing as a very special place and thanked his team for their patience and support. Not all of the team could attend, but he said he hoped the rest were watching from home and pledged to keep improving and chasing more trophies for the rest of the season.
Beijing was Sinner’s third title at a 500-point event in multiple wins for him, and he joined Djokovic and Nadal as the few players to win the Beijing title more than once. The 24-year-old, who also claimed both Australia and Wimbledon this year, is the fourth player in 2025 to win three or more titles, with Alcaraz leading the year with eight titles. Beijing's 500-point events have long rewarded players who master consistency and longevity, and Sinner's latest triumph underscored his growing maturity.
He leaves Beijing trailing the world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz by 2,590 points in the direct Turin race, a gauge for year-end rankings. Alcaraz had won in Tokyo on Tuesday, marking the first time since 2020 that the top two players in the world won two titles in the same week (Djokovic in Dubai, Nadal in Acapulco).
And Sinner will head to Shanghai next, where he will lead the field after Alcaraz withdrew with an ankle injury suffered in Tokyo.
Tin rose 16 spots to 36 in the live rankings and is set to reach his best ranking, with a probable berth at the Next Gen Finals for the second straight year.
The left-handed Tin sits second in the direct race, having beaten Lorenzo Musetti and Daniil Medvedev on his way to the final, with a 7-5 mark against Top-20 opponents. Sinner has played seven finals this season, starting with the Australian Open title over Alexander Zverev, then five consecutive finals against Alcaraz, including the Rome final and the dramatic Roland Garros final.
Then he exacted revenge by beating Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final to win his first major, while Alcaraz regained the edge by beating him in Cincinnati and then in the US Open final to claim the world No. 1 ranking.
Sinner captured his 21st career title in his 30th final, with a resume that includes four Masters 1000 titles and six 500-point titles, plus 14 titles on outdoor hard courts and seven on indoor hard courts. On different surfaces, Sinner has 18 titles on hard courts, one on clay, and two on grass, with 14 titles on outdoor majors and seven indoors.
Throughout the season, Sinner recorded 24 winners against 16 errors, while Tin had 11 winners to 18 errors. Sinner saved both break points he faced and won 73 percent of his points at the net (8 of 11).
Looking ahead, Sinner’s Beijing victory adds to a season in which he has already claimed major titles and continues to push for a strong finish in the year-end race.
Punchline 1: Sinner's serve was so fast it filed a speeding ticket on the court.
Punchline 2: If tennis is a game of inches, Sinner's inches are measured in meters.
