Jannik Sinner is in the semifinals in Beijing. © ANSA / JESSICA LEE

Jannik Sinner shows (almost) nothing

This Jannik Sinner is simply a complete professional: The Sextner made it into the semifinals of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing – and (almost) without batting an eyelid.

September 30, 2024

From: dl

Cold as a dog's nose: That's how Jannik Sinner's performance in the quarter-finals in Beijing against Jiri Lehecka can be summed up. In the end, the world number 1 defeated the 22-year-old Czech in two sets, 6:2 and 7:6 (6). While Sinner played confidently in the first set, he had to fend off two set points in the final tiebreak.

The Sextner seems cold these days. Doping confusion that could drag on for months, has left its mark on Sinner. A smile rarely crosses the 23-year-old's lips these days. The consequences of a possible one to two-year ban, which WADA is demanding, would be too great.

Jannik Sinner played strongly. © APA/afp / GREG BAKER

In terms of sport, Sinner is still doing his thing. The South Tyrolean was a whole class better than Lehecka in the first set on Monday. Sinner was confident on his own serve for a long time. Until the score was 5:5 in the second set, when the Pusterer had to really grit his teeth for the first time and fend off two break points. In the tiebreak, Sinner was then 4:6 behind. In the style of a true number 1, he stayed cool, scored four points in a row and sealed the deal after 1:46 hours.

Now in the semifinals

In the semifinals, Sinner will now unexpectedly face the Chinese Yunchaokete Bu (ATP 96), who sensationally eliminated the Russian Andrey Rublev (ATP 6) in two sets in the quarterfinals. In the other semifinal on Tuesday, Daniil Medvedev and Carlos Alcaraz will face each other. The final of the hard court tournament in China's capital will then be played on Wednesday.