Sinner escapes Atmane danger in Beijing

Jannik Sinner dropped a set on his way into the quarter-finals of the China Open on Saturday, with the top seed putting down a rebellion from French dangerman Terence Atmane.6-4, 5-7, 6-0.

The world no. 2 Italian beat Atmae for the second time in just over a month after defeating the surprise semi-finalist at the Cincinnati Masters.

Sinner is playing his first event since losing the US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz this month.

The Italian muddled through a second-set slump as he dropped serve three times to the outsider ranked 68th before lifting in the deciding set to run out the winner into the last eight.

Under the ATP chaotic scheduling plan, the normally one-week event does not end until Tuesday so as to accommodate the Shanghai Masters to follow. 

The calendar insanity has drawn criticism from across the player spectrum as it flies in the face of traditional tournament timings which normally play the final on a Sunday.

Sinner moved into his 13thconsecutive hard-court quarter-final in just under two and a half hours.

“The game style he plays is quite unique and he is a lefty and we don’t have so many,” the winner said of Atmane.

“Today he struggled a little bit in the third set with some cramp but it was a tough, tricky second-round match. 

“I was twice up with a break in the second set and I couldn’t use it, but this is the sport and this happens. Maybe the concentration went down a little bit at times and some nerves, but I am very happy to be through to the next round.”

Sinner is duelling with Alcaraz for the year-end top ranking spot, with both men in with a chance; he currently trails his Spanish rival by 2,540 points as the eight-man year-end final in Turin in November draws closer.

Sinner now faces Hungarian No. 57 Fabian Marozsan.

Also in Beijing, Alex de Minaur beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2) to solidify his bid for the year-ender.

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner winning in Beijing – by ATPTour.com