Jannik Sinner admits his six consecutive defeats to Daniil Medvedev forced him to change his strategy at the China Open finals that saw him clinch the title

After his semi-final win, Sinner said that he'd make some tactical changes before the final showdown against Medvedev.

Jannik Sinner admits his six consecutive defeats to Daniil Medvedev forced him to change his strategy at the China Open finals that saw him clinch the title

Jannik Sinner alongside Daniil Medvedev at the China Open trophy presentation ceremony (Credit : AP)

New World No. 4 Jannik Sinner addressed his ‘Medvedev’ problem as the Italian got the better of World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev for the first time in seven attempts in the final of the ATP 500 China Open at the National Tennis Center in Beijing on Wednesday. 

Sinner, seeded 6th, defeated the 2nd seed 7-6(2), 7-6(2), in 2 hours and one minute to get his 49th win of the year and 9th career ATP title. Next week, Sinner will breach the top-4 mark for the first time in his career, equaling Adriano Panatta as the highest-ranked Italian man in history.

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The 22-year-old once again showed superb composure in crucial moments, not letting any opportunities go away. Both players were good on their serve, but Sinner stood out in particular. The Italian won a stunning 82% on his first serve, conceding just one break point. 

Speaking to the press after his sublime semi-final win against the 1st seed Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner said that he’d try to change a few things before the final encounter against the Russian, calling him the player he never wanted to face. It’d be fair to say that whatever changes he made to his playing style worked, and the Italian was visibly elated by that fact.

Talking to the press in Beijing, Sinner remarked, “I had six defeats in a row against him so at some point, I had to change certain things, and that’s what I managed to do today (Wednesday). Of course, you have to practice a lot to push your limits in this kind of situation, it’s never easy, but I think I served very well, especially in important moments. I played very well in the two decisive games. Of course, tiebreaks can always change very, very quickly. I’m really happy with my performance.”

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Jannik Sinner moves one step closer to confirming his spot in the ATP Finals

While World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev has already confirmed his spot in the ATP Finals to be played in Turin, Sinner has moved one step closer to consolidating his spot in the year-end championships to be played in his home country. The 22-year-old, next in line to qualify, will be making his first appearance at the ATP Finals if he succeeds in qualifying. The Italian has won three titles this year, including his first Masters title at the Canadian Open in Toronto.

Jannik Sinner with the China Open trophy
Jannik Sinner with the China Open trophy (Credit : AP)

Next up, Sinner will face American pro Marcos Giron in the round of 64 of the Shanghai Masters. On the other hand, defending champion Daniil Medvedev will face Chilean tennis player Christian Garin at the same stage of the tournament.

This will be the first edition of the tournament since 2019. Medvedev won the last edition of the tournament, defeating Alexander Zverev in the final encounter.

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