Sinner on a Mission: A Swift Victory Against Čilić in His Beijing Debut
Three weeks after his heartbreaking defeat in the US Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian made a stunning return to the court, sweeping aside Marin Čilić (6-2, 6-2) in the first round of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing.
Just 1 hour and 20 minutes of play. That’s all it took for Sinner to extinguish a Čilić who was overwhelmed by the speed, precision, and intensity of the 24-year-old player. A clear warning to the rest of the draw.
The scoreline is decisive, but the match content is even more so. Sinner won 75% of the points behind his first serve, but also 56% on return. Čilić (97th), a former US Open champion, never found his rhythm, earning only one break point throughout the entire match.
In the next round, Sinner will once again face Frenchman Terence Atmane, after their semifinal encounter in Cincinnati. A match between two contrasting styles that promises a fiery contest.
Pékin 
