Jannik Sinner Promises ‘Changes’ to his Game Ahead of Beijing Open Return

Jannik Sinner said on Wednesday that he has been working on changes to his game. He added that he has been “reflecting a lot” ahead of his return to competition. This will be his first tournament since the US Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz.

The Italian could not keep his title in New York earlier this month. Alcaraz defeated him in four sets and reclaimed the world number one spot. After the match, Sinner admitted that he must bring more variety and surprise into his style. Sinner said in his press conference:

We reflected a lot on that final against Alcaraz in New York. We are working on new things. We are changing many small details. The number of errors at the moment is certainly a bit higher, but I hope it will decrease. It’s only a matter of time. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to put the changes into practice on the court, because training is one thing, a match is another. We’ll see. I’m very motivated. It’s fantastic to work on something new, then we’ll see how it goes. We always try to move forward. One step forward is always better than two steps back.

This is not the first time the Spaniard has stopped him on a big stage. A year ago, Alcaraz also beat Sinner in the final, which went to three exciting sets. The rivalry between the two is now one of the most talked about in tennis.

Sinner plans to test his new approach in Beijing. He said the changes might come with some short-term costs, but he is ready to adapt. Alcaraz, however, will not defend his title in China, as he has chosen to compete in Japan this week.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are untouchable heading into ATP Finals

The first week of the Asian swing brought changes to the ATP Race. Alexander Bublik claimed the title in Hangzhou, while Alejandro Tabilo triumphed in Chengdu. Lorenzo Musetti, despite losing to Tabilo in the final, earned key points for his bid to reach the ATP Finals in Turin.

The ATP Race only counts points gained during the 2025 season. It differs from the ATP Ranking, which is based on results from the past 52 weeks. The Race decides the eight players who will compete in the year-end Finals.

At the top, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are already qualified. Alcaraz leads with 10,540 points, including seven titles and two Grand Slams. Sinner follows with 7,950 points, highlighted by two majors and several strong runs.

Behind them, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev share third place with 4,180 points each. Djokovic has not played since the US Open but is expected back at the Shanghai Masters. Zverev, meanwhile, has a chance to move ahead if he reaches the Beijing quarterfinals.

Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz sit just behind, battling for qualification. Shelton holds 3,710 points but has missed time with injury. Fritz, on 3,465 points, will compete in Tokyo this week as he seeks a third straight Finals appearance.

The final two spots are currently held by Musetti (3,235) and Alex De Minaur (3,145). Both benefitted from Jack Draper’s season-ending injury, which removed a major rival from contention. Felix Auger-Aliassime, in 10th with 2,705 points, remains the closest chaser but needs a strong finish to close the gap.

Bublik also entered the conversation, rising to 12th after his fourth title of the year. Tabilo, who started Chengdu in qualifying, now sits inside the top-85 after seven straight wins. For both players, the past week marked a breakthrough in their seasons.

Carlos Alcaraz generates astonishing numbers at the US Open

When Carlos Alcaraz lifted his first US Open trophy in 2022, he was only 19 and already being hailed as the future of tennis. Three years later, he has grown into the sport’s most dominant player. At the 2025 US Open, Alcaraz crushed rival Jannik Sinner in front of a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match ended with a booming ace on championship point—a ball that has now made history off the court.

That final ball was recently auctioned at Sotheby’s for $88,900, setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a tennis ball. The previous mark belonged to Serena Williams, whose 2013 US Open final point ball fetched $9,525 earlier this year. Williams’ ball had been expected to sell for much more, but it still held the top spot until Alcaraz shattered the record.

Interestingly, another ball from Alcaraz’s 2025 US Open run had already surpassed Serena’s total. The semifinal match point ball from his victory over Novak Djokovic went for $31,750. Yet it was the final against Sinner that stole the spotlight, with collectors driving bids to nearly $90,000. Just a year earlier, Alcaraz’s 2022 US Open final ball against Casper Ruud sold for only $1,574—a sign of how much his value as a sports icon has surged.

Auction records are becoming routine for the Spaniard. Earlier this year, his 2022 NetPro Premium Autograph Rookie Card sold for $237,907, breaking the record for any men’s tennis card. His 2024 Indian Wells relic card had set the previous mark at $222,000.

Even his shoes are in demand: a signed pair of Nike Vapor 12 sneakers worn in his US Open semifinal against Djokovic sold for $57,150. For fans and collectors alike, Alcaraz has become tennis’ most bankable star on and off the court.

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