The Road to Glory at the China Open: Sinner's Hardcourt Dominance Begins in Beijing

On the first day of the National Day holiday, the Diamond Court at Beijing National Tennis Center once again became the lucky ground for Italian star Sinner’s coronation. Facing American player Lehnert, Sinner swept his opponent with two clean 6-2 sets, decisively lifting the 2025 China Open men’s singles trophy. This marked his second Beijing title in three years and a milestone of special significance in his career.

Though the match lacked suspense, the atmosphere on site was blazing hot. Official data showed a 97% attendance rate for the men’s singles final, with 13,041 fans flooding the Diamond Court, creating the most passionate tennis environment on the first day of the holiday. When victory arrived, Sinner refrained from shouting wildly; instead, in front of the broadcast cameras, he solemnly wrote two words: “Thank You.”

This expression of gratitude was heartfelt, tracing back to a pivotal turning point two years ago.“Winning the China Open two years ago was undoubtedly a turning point in my career. I played some fantastic matches against several excellent opponents, and I will always remember that,” Sinner admitted after the match. Rewinding to 2023, that memorable match featured Sinner pushing himself to the brink, even vomiting into a trash can on court—a moment that came to symbolize his career: extreme effort and resilience. Since then, he seemed to have unlocked a new level, embarking on an almost invincible run on hard courts.

Starting from Beijing that year, his hardcourt dominance shocked the tennis world: the 2023 China Open, Vienna, Davis Cup; the 2024 season saw a frenzy of titles at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Cincinnati, US Open, Shanghai Masters, ATP Finals, and Davis Cup; and in 2025, he defended the Australian Open and returned to Beijing to win again... This impressive streak of hardcourt trophies firmly established Sinner’s reputation as the hardcourt king.

This year’s China Open held an even deeper meaning for Sinner. It was the first tournament he entered after deciding to overhaul his technique following his loss to Alcaraz in the US Open final. He had stated that he was willing to endure short-term setbacks for long-term gains. Observant fans noticed that during the Beijing matches, he sometimes deliberately employed unfamiliar tactics, using competition as practice for diverse strategies. Despite this, he still triumphed through his strong foundation and adaptability, adding significant weight to his title defense journey.

With his main rival Alcaraz withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters, Sinner, carrying the momentum of his China Open victory, naturally became the favorite to claim the Shanghai title. Should he successfully defend the Shanghai Masters crown, the seemingly settled year-end battle for world No.1 between him and Alcaraz would be reignited.

When discussing his achievements, Sinner displayed humility quite unlike his on-court persona. Being honored to stand alongside legends Djokovic and Nadal as one of only three players to have won the China Open at least twice, he remained modest. “My accomplishments can’t be compared to Novak’s,” he said shyly with a smile, “I’m just a 24-year-old trying to play my best tennis.”

From that exhausted yet iron-willed moment of vomiting two years ago to calmly writing “Thank you” amid thunderous cheers today, Sinner’s path to kingship began in Beijing and has extended across the global hardcourt circuit. The Diamond Court has witnessed not only his two championship trophies but also the transformation and rise of a star. His legend is still being written.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Mei)