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Jannik Sinner won his 21st career title by defeating Learner Tien at the China Open, matching Rafael Nadal’s record and eyeing a return to world number one.
Jannik Sinner (AP)
Jannik Sinner claimed the 21st title of his career by defeating American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in the China Open final on Wednesday.
The Italian celebrated his second trophy on Beijing’s hard courts, having first won during his tournament debut in 2023, and is now eyeing a return to the world number one ranking.
Sinner’s only loss on the centre Diamond Court was to his great rival and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s final in three thrilling sets.
“A very, very special place for me,” said Sinner, who overcame a couple of three-set scares and a bout of diarrhoea to reach the final.
Alcaraz did not defend his title in Beijing and instead won the Japan Open in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Sinner is the third man to win multiple China Open titles, matching Rafael Nadal’s record of two, but still far behind Novak Djokovic’s six.
“I always say comparing me to Novak, he’s in a different league with everything he has achieved in his career,” said Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam champion.
“I’m just a normal 24-year-old who tries to play the best tennis possible.”
However, he admitted that his trophy collection has outgrown his home and said his trophies now go to his parents’ place.
“My apartment is quite small, so there’s not a lot of space.”
Sinner broke immediately in the first set to dominate the 19-year-old Tien, who was playing in his first ATP final.
The world number 52 had a rare chance to break in the second game of the second set, but Sinner quickly regained control, finishing the match with 10 aces in a 1-hour 12-minute final.
“I thought he served well today. Just getting a lot of free points on his serve. I couldn’t really get a great read,” Tien said.
“I just think the pressure he puts on you point to point is really tough.”
Tien was aiming to become Beijing’s lowest-ranked champion in tournament history.
At 19 years and nine months, Tien would also have been the second-youngest American ATP Tour champion since Andy Roddick in 2002.
Despite showing flashes of his rich potential, he was never really in the match.
“You are showing throughout the whole season what a talent you are,” Sinner said after the match.
Sinner’s dominant win was his third title this season, following victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
He may now regain the top ranking before the season ends, especially after Alcaraz withdrew from the Shanghai Masters due to injury on Tuesday.
The Spaniard took the world number one ranking from Sinner by defeating him in the US Open final.
Sinner will be the top seed in Shanghai, which began this week and where he is the defending champion.
October 01, 2025, 19:34 IST
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