Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner is set to face Australian Alex De Minaur in the semi-finals of the China Open, following a decisive victory over Hungarian player Fabian Marozsan. Sinner defeated Marozsan with a score of 6-1, 7-5, a performance that has brought him closer to reclaiming the world No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz.
De Minaur enters the match as a notable underdog, having lost all ten previous encounters against Sinner. Their most recent match took place at the Australian Open earlier this year, where Sinner triumphed with a score of 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. Despite his underdog status, De Minaur, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, will look to capitalize on any opportunities that arise during their clash.
Sinner, who recently lost the top ranking after surrendering his title at the US Open to Alcaraz earlier this month, has rebounded strongly in Beijing. This marks his seventh semi-final appearance in just eight tournaments this year, showcasing his consistency and skill on the court.
In the match against Marozsan, Sinner dominated the first set, claiming it in just 26 minutes with impressive baseline hitting. The second set proved to be more challenging for Sinner, particularly after he fell awkwardly during the eighth game. Nevertheless, he demonstrated resilience, recovering from a break down at 4-5 to ultimately deny Marozsan the set. Sinner then secured his 40th tour-level match win of the season, a notable achievement considering he served a short doping ban earlier in the year.
“I feel like I started off very well in the first set. We both played well in the second set. I had some break chances at 4-3, I couldn’t use them,” Sinner reflected after the match. He acknowledged De Minaur’s potential, stating, “He’s someone whose peak is high, which I knew before the match. When he was serving for the set, he made a couple of unforced errors which helped me to come back and win in two.”
As the tournament progresses, other quarter-final matches are also generating interest. American teenager Learner Tien is set to compete against Sinner’s compatriot and fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti. Additionally, Russian eighth seed Daniil Medvedev will face German second seed Alexander Zverev, adding to the excitement of the tournament.
The upcoming semi-final between Sinner and De Minaur promises to be a thrilling encounter, as both players vie for a spot in the final of the China Open. With Sinner’s current form and De Minaur’s determination, fans can expect an engaging match in Beijing.
