On a brisk autumn evening in Beijing on the Chinese mainland, Italian rising star Jannik Sinner continued his remarkable run at the China Open. By defeating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in Tuesday's semifinal, Sinner extended his unbeaten rivalry record to 11-0 and punched his ticket to a third straight final in the tournament.
Sinner's path through the capital has been one of growing familiarity and confidence. Last year's champion after wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, Sinner now returns to the decider with an aura of calm, top-seed precision and the momentum of a player fully in his comfort zone in Beijing.
Waiting in the final will be 19-year-old Learner Tien, making his first ATP Tour final. Tien earned his breakthrough in dramatic fashion when Daniil Medvedev retired early in the third set of their semifinal clash. After dropping the opening set 7-5, the teenager rallied to level and surged 4-0 in the decider before the Russian withdrew, signaling the arrival of a new talent on the big stage.
On the women's side, American Coco Gauff showed resilience to overcome Belinda Bencic 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 and reach the quarterfinals. Gauff's fourth straight trip to the WTA Finals already secured, she now looks to defend her title as she gears up to face Germany's Eva Lys, who battled back from a set down to beat McCartney Kessler.
Wednesday's showdowns promise a blend of seasoned excellence and youthful aspiration. With Sinner favoring controlled aggression, Tien chasing his maiden crown, and Gauff seeking back-to-back glory in Beijing, the China Open continues to deliver high-stakes drama that resonates from the Chinese mainland to tennis fans around the globe.
Reference(s):
Sinner reaches China Open men's final, Gauff into women's quarters
cgtn.com
