Jannik Sinner Triumph at China Open 2024, Taylor Fritz Fall
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner continues his impressive run in Beijing, while Taylor Fritz faces an early exit at the Japan Open.
The world No. 1 Jannik Sinner defeated Nicolas Jarry 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the opening round of the China Open after overcoming a difficult start. After winning the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open recently, Sinner’s winning run now stands at 12 matches. This is his second Grand Slam victory of 2024.
With victories at the US Open and Cincinnati, the Italian increased his winning streak to 12—his second Grand Slam victory of the year. Sinner has a 76-6 record over the last 52 weeks.
The Chilean defeated Sinner in the opening set of the Beijing tournament with 11 wins, and Jarry emerged victorious in their sole prior meeting on the grass in 2019.
Sinner remarked, “I was struggling to return his serve in the first set and he broke me.” I simply made an effort to remain there. Any tournament’s opening round is never simple, and going up against him is extremely difficult. However, I am pleased with my performance and match-ending strategy.
In a commanding third set, Sinner broke Jarry twice to square the scores. Next up for him was lucky loser Roman Safiullin, or wild card Stan Wawrinka.
Sixteen years after his debut, Adrian Mannarino also from a set down to defeat Lorenzo Sonego 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 for his 300th career victory on the tour. On Friday, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, who is ranked second in Beijing, takes on No. 51 Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France.
Women’s first-round winners included Nadia Podoroska, Camilla Osorio, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Kamilla Rakhimova, and Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.
The top seed and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was among the 32 seeds who won byes to the first round. Highest ranked Iga Swiatek has personal reasons why she could not play this week.
Japan Open Updates:
First-placed No. 24 Arthur Fils of France defeated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in Tokyo.
In a forceful performance, Fils defeated thirty-two champions, including Fritz, who reached his maiden Grand Slam singles final at the US Open this month. Matteo Berrettini, a former top-10 player, will face Fils in the second round.
Ben Shelton, the defending winner, defeated Reilly Opelka, a countryman, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, after overcoming a shaky first set. Shelton and Fritz had just returned from the Laver Cup in Berlin, where Team World had lost to Team Europe of Alcaraz.
The eighth-seeded Shelton said, “I felt like I was struggling a little bit and getting rhythm.” “Reilly was doing a great job serving and coming back.”
Frances Tiafoe, a semifinalist at the US Open, lost against Brandon Nakashima in another all-American encounter, 7-5, 6-3. Nakashima, who was in 36th place, hit 12 aces.
Ranked fifth Tommy Paul easily defeated Matteo Arnaldi of Italy, winning 6-3 and 6-2. Other victors included Yoshihito Nishioka, who defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5) in a three-hour marathon, and Jack Draper, a semifinalist at the US Open.
