It is not often that two Grand Slam champions face each other in the opening round of a tournament, but that turned out to be the case at De Beijing Open when Jannik Sinner opposite Marin Cilic in the Beijing.
I try to prepare myself in the best possible way. I came here quite early to feel the conditions Jannik Sinner
Both are former US Open Champions, Sinner recently lost that title to Carlos Alcaraz a few weeks ago, while Cilic lifted that trophy in 2012.
Although the opportunities were always for the younger player from Italy, the experienced Croatian has always been considered a dangerous player with his strength and serious serve.
The disappointment of Sinner about losing his title and the status of World No. 1 to his rival, was quickly forgotten when he stepped back in the swing of the Tour to post a 6-2 6-2 victory while he took the Cilic challenge aside to go in round two.
The 24-year-old Italian, who triumphed his Beijing debut in 2023 and reached last year’s final, saved the only breaking point with which he was confronted on return to the Chinese ATP 500-level event,
“I try to post a lot of concentration in the first round races because I know that many things can go wrong,” said Sinner, who won his last 27 opening round matches since Cincinnati in 2023.
“After you usually find your rhythm, your pace, the speed of the courts much better. I try to prepare myself in the best possible way. I came here quite early to feel the conditions.
“I am very happy to deliver this kind of performance today. Marin is a very tough player to play against, his peak is quite high. I managed to break him in both sets quite early, which gave me the confidence to continue.”
Sinner will then be confronted with the French qualifying match Terence Atmaine, who previously defeated Zhnag Zhizhen for his first victory at tour level since his surprise run to the semi -final in Cincinnati who was stopped by Sinner.
Earlier on day 1 in the Chinese capital, another French qualifying match Alexandre Muller made the fifth seed from Russia, Karen Khahanov 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 and will play Hungarian Fabian Marozsan, who played the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 (1) 6-3 on his Beijing Debut.
The Spanish Alejandro Davidovic Fokina also continued a clinical 6-1 6-3 victory over fellow countryman Camilo Ugo Carabelli and is now waiting for the winner of the Russian British collision between Daniil Medvedev and Cameron Norrie …
Only four games in the first round were played with the rest now planned for Friday.
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