Jannik Sinner said holding his nerve in “important moments” was the key to edging out world number three Daniil Medvedev in Wednesday’s China Open men’s final, which turned on a pair of high-stakes tie-breaks in Beijing.
The Italian triumphed 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/2) in an otherwise deadlocked match to claim the first such tournament since 2019 after Beijing ditched tight pandemic-era health restrictions.
Jannik Sinner wins the China Open in Beijing! It’s a ninth ATP Tour title for the world No. 6 as he downs Daniil Medvedev 7-6(2) 7-6(2) pic.twitter.com/0xs6d1f5CU
— Eurosport (@eurosport) October 4, 2023
Neither man was able to break the other’s serve but Sinner missed a presentable opportunity in the first set when he walloped an overhead volley long on break point and allowed the Russian to hold from deuce.
It was a different story in the tie-break, with the world number seven racing into a 5-0 lead and sealing the deal when Medvedev struck a forehand into the net.
A similar stalemate ensued in set two with the first dozen games going with serve before Sinner again showed his composure when it mattered.
He took the lead in the tie-break with a deft drop shot and never looked back, whipping a stunning cross-court passing shot for match point and battering back a Medvedev serve to seize victory in front of a raucous crowd.
“At some point, I started to return a little bit better… read his serve a little bit better, and that gave me confidence, especially for the tie-break,” Sinner said at a post-match news conference.
“The important moments in every match… today I also managed somehow that they (went) my way,” the 22-year-old added.
“Today’s final was a very high-level final, (and) I’m very happy about the ending of this tournament,” he said.
Medvedev admitted that his opponent played “much better than me” in both tie-breaks.
“He managed to control his emotions better in these tie-breaks (and) not make mistakes… (while) I made some easy ones,” said the 27-year-old.
“In a way it’s luck, but also experience and stuff like this. That’s why he won.”
World number two and tournament favourite Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated by Sinner in their semi-final on Tuesday.
China Open men’s singles semifinal match live interviewAlcaraz vs SinnerLet’s see what the audience thinks about the semifinals. #2023ChinaOpen #ChinaOpen #AsianGames #Tennis #Alcaraz #Sinner #atptour #Beijing pic.twitter.com/qaTYlB1I0T— nmbly_nan (@nnmbly37682) October 4, 2023
READ: Jannik Sinner ‘Went Out of My Mind’, Says Carlos Alcaraz After His Shock-Exit From the China Open
In the women’s division, world number two Iga Swiatek swatted aside compatriot Magda Linette to surge into the China Open quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-1 victory.
World number four Jessica Pegula crashed out with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat to Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko.
Ostapenko faces Liudmila Samsonova in the last eight after the Russian defeated Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 7-5.
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