Jannik Sinner won his second China Open title on Sunday, defeating American star Learner Tien in the final.
This title marked Sinner’s third of 2025, following victories at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
The Italian played at his usual, almost metronomic level, defeating Tien 6-2, 6-2 under the sunlight beaming down onto Beijing’s centre court.
Sinner is the third player to have won the China Open on more than one occasion, joining Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic holds the record for the most China Open title wins, with six to his name.
Jannik Sinner says Novak Djokovic is in a ‘different league’
During his post-match press conference after victory in China, Sinner was asked about Novak Djokovic’s record of six China Open titles.
Novak Djokovic won six of the seven China Open tournaments between 2009 and 2015.
One journalist asked Sinner: “You have won the biggest trophy two times in less than three years. Only Novak Djokovic won six times.
“I want to know how many times do you believe you can break Novak’s record? Do you think you will come here as long as Novak did?”
Sinner replied: “I don’t know (smiling).
“I always say comparing me to Novak, he’s in different league with everything he has achieved in his career. I’m just a normal 24-year-old who tries to play the best tennis possible.
“I know I’ve won some great titles in my young career, but let’s see how long I can hold it. What Novak, Rafa and Roger did for 15-plus years was amazing. Novak is still here and showing some incredible tennis. So let’s see.
“But I’m not comparing myself. I’m here to play. I’m here to enjoy. I’m also happy that I can say that I won two times here.
“If it stays at two? If it’s more, I’m more happy? I don’t know if I’m more happy. I don’t know.
“I’m very happy that I can say I won here two times, then we see in the future.”
Following his victory in China, Sinner has a big opportunity to claw back lost ground in the race for the status of year-end world number one.
Carlos Alcaraz re-captured this mantle after defeating Sinner in the US Open final.
However, after winning the Japan Open, Alcaraz announced his withdrawal from the Shanghai Masters, offering Sinner an opportunity to capitalise.
Jannik Sinner says whether he feels ‘fresher’ at the end of 2025 compared to other years
During the same press conference, Sinner was asked to compare his overall health and fitness during the latter stage of 2025, to previous years on tour.
The Italian responded: “It’s difficult. I feel like also last year we managed very well the season. I managed to play incredibly well at the end of the season because I made some choices earlier on by not playing a couple of tournaments.
“I’m not saying that this is the right choice or not. You know, you never know. What I try to do is to understand. It’s very difficult when you’re 23, 24, because you’re still young, to understand fully your body and mind, what the best thing is to do.
That’s why exactly you have the best possible people around you trying to guide you a little bit at times.
Three months… one thing is if you’re injured, you accept it better.
“This year was a little bit different. It was not easy. But at the same time I used this time to work on things. We’ve been practicing very hard. I feel like physically I’m getting slightly better every time.
So yeah, but seeing also last year I was fresh in the end of the year because I made some choices. So yeah, that’s it.
