World no. 2 Jannik Sinner remains on the Beijing Open title course. The Italian faced Terence Atmane in the second round and earned a 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 victory in two hours and 21 minutes.
Jannik will compete in his 13th straight hard-court quarter-final, hoping to regain the trophy and remain in contention for the year-end no. 1 spot. The Pokemon friends stayed neck and neck in the opening two sets.
The Frenchman stole the second with a late break before Sinner shifted into a higher gear and sealed the deal with a bagel in the decider. The Italian's serve did not work like in the first match.
He dropped 39% of the points in his games and faced nine break points. Terence provided three breaks while giving away almost half of the points behind the initial shot. He fired more service winners than world no. 2 but struggled behind the second serve.
Jannik generated 11 break points and seized six, three in the decider. Like his rival, the Italian hit more unforced errors than winners. However, he welcomed almost 40 mistakes from the other side and brought the victory home safely.
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The favorite grabbed a break in the third game of the opener and saved a couple of break points in the next one for 3-1. Atmane saved two set points in game nine and held for 4-5 before generating three break chances in the next one.
Sinner saved them and wrapped up the game for 6-4. They traded four consecutive breaks at love in the second set, a rare scene in men's tennis! Terence made another push on the return at 6-5 and grabbed a break to force a decider.
However, Jannik recovered his game and provided a bagel in the final set to remain on the title course.
