Jannik Sinner made a winning start at the ATP 500 event in Beijing. World no. 2 faced Marin Cilic in the first round and scored a 6-2, 6-2 victory in an hour and 21 minutes.
The Italian served at 77% and dropped 13 points in eight service games. He defended the only break point and kept the pressure on the Croatian veteran. Marin could not follow the rival's pace.
The Croat served at 45% and gave away 53% of the points in his games. He faced ten break points and experienced two breaks in each set to propel world no. 2 over the top.
Jannik landed 15 winners and tenunforced errors. Marin hit 12 direct points and sprayed 28 mistakes, missing from both sides and hitting the exit door. The Croat denied a break point in the first game of the duel with a service winner.
Sinner made another push on the return at 2-2 and landed a deep return on the third break point for the advantage. The Italian held at love in game six and fired a backhand return winner a few minutes later for a 5-2 lead.
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Jannik Sinner, Beijing 2025 Stream screenshot
The 2023 champion landed a service winner on a set point at 5-2, closing the first part of the duel in 39 minutes. Jannik closed the second game of the second set with a service winner and broke at love in the next one after Marin's forehand mistake.
Sinner fired a forehand winner in the fifth game, providing another break and extending the gap. Cilic served to stay in match at 1-5 and saved two match points to extend the battle.
The Italian faced the only break point while serving for the win at 5-2. He denied it with an ace and fired a service winner on a match point to emerge at the top and make a winning start.
