After the US Open final lost to Carlos Alcaraz about 20 days ago, former world number 1 Jannik Sinner had highlighted the need to change something in his game to improve as a tennis player and become more unpredictable during matches against his huge rival.
The Italian ace lost the first position in the ATP rankings due to that loss against the 22-year-old Spaniard in New York and has practiced with enormous intensity together with his entire team in recent weeks, before flying to China to participate in the prestigious Beijing ATP 500. The 24-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has always had an excellent feeling with this tournament, considering that he lifted the trophy in 2023 and reached the final last year.
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Sinner shone in Beijing
One of the aspects that didn't work during the last Major of the season was undoubtedly Jannik's serve. The current world number 2 had too low percentages and Flushing Meadows and this weakness emerged especially during the final, allowing Carlitos to make the difference and command most of the rallies.
Statistics have shown that during the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati and the US Open the four-time Grand Slam champion has reached at least 60% first serve on court only on two occasions (against Daniel Galan in Ohio and against his compatriot Lorenzo Musetti in New York).
Sinner made his debut in Beijing today and demolished Croatian veteran Marin Cilic in the last match on Centre Court, putting in a brilliant performance and using his serve in the best possible way. According to 'Tennis Abstract', this was only the fourth time in his career that the Italian star has put at least 77% of first serve on court.
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The world number 2 will face French player Terence Atmane in the next round in the Chinese capital. He is a player on the rise, whom Jannik has already faced and beaten in Cincinnati during the summer.
