Jannik Sinner beats Learner Tien to win China Open

By beating American teenager Learner Tien 6-2, 6-2 in the China Open final, Jannik Sinner has won the 21st title of his career.

The Italian, who made his 2023 tournament debut on Wednesday, is aiming to make history as the world no. 1 in Beijing. He previously won the trophy for the second time on Beijing’s hard courts.

The 24-year-old only lost to top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz, who won the final of the year’s final in three thrilling sets, on Beijing’s center Diamond Court.

The winner, a four-time Grand Slam champion and this week’s top seed, declared, “A very, very special place for me.”

Alcaraz won the Japan Open in Tokyo on Tuesday despite not defending his title in the Chinese capital.

Sinner outclassed Tien, who was in his first ATP final, immediately in the first set.

Jannik thanked Jannik for a fantastic week, another title, and an honor to play for you today, he told the world number two.

The world number 52 had a rare chance to break in the second set, but Sinner quickly regained control and won the 1h, 12min final with 10 aces.

Sinner anticipates the top spot in the polls.

Tien would have won the tournament in history with Beijing’s lowest-ranked player.

Tien would have won the second-youngest American Tour title since Andy Roddick in 2002, aged 19 and nine months.

Despite some indications of his high potential, he was never truly in it.

In the mean time, Sinner said, “You are showing your talent throughout the entire season.”

After winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Sinner’s triumph was his third title of the season.

After Alcaraz pulled out of the Shanghai Masters on Tuesday with an injury, Sinner may now have a chance to reclaim the top spot before the season is over.

When Sinner defeated the Italian in the US Open final on September 7, the Spaniard won the world title.

The Shanghai matchup, which started this week, will feature Sinner as the top seed.