Jannik Sinner claims 'very tough' fightback win over Nicolas Jarry to start China Open defence with 'room to improve'

US Open champion Jannik Sinner began his China Open defence with a hard-fought three-set win over Chile's Nicolas Jarry. The Italian world No. 1 has been the dominant force on tour this year, particularly on hard courts, and overcame a testing first set to triumph 4-6 6-3 6-1. He will next play the winner of the match between Roman Safiullin and veteran three-time major winner Stan Wawrinka.

‘I was just a little bit luckier’ – Cilic reflects on ‘absolutely incredible’ Hangzhou Open win

Video credit: SNTV

New US Open champion Jannik Sinner made a winning start to his China Open title defence, coming from a set down against world No. 28 Nicolas Jarry to book a place in the second round.

He was made to work hard against the big-serving Chilean, but once he hit his stride, Jarry had no response, eventually winning 4-6 6-3 6-1.

Sinner beat Daniil Medvedev to win the 500-level tournament last year and made his return to action in Beijing after a period to recharge following his dominant run to the trophy in New York.

ATP Finals

Sinner's coach reveals influences from Djokovic, Nadal and Federer - 'Try to learn from the best'

Yesterday at 08:40

"He played some very good tennis, the first set, he was serving very well, I was struggling to return his serve," Sinner said afterwards, acknowledging an opponent who at one point looked set for a huge upset.

"I just tried to stay there mentally, first round [in a competition] is always tough, playing against him is very tough. Happy about the performance and how I ended the match.

"The second serve I still have to improve a little bit. He was returning very aggressively, it's not easy. From after US Open we worked very hard [on serve], [I'm] happy about my process, obviously there is still a lot of room to improve."

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand in the Men's Singles First Round match against Nicolas Jarry of Chile during day four of the 2024 China Open at National Tennis Center on September 26, 2024 in Beijing, China.

Image credit: Getty Images

Jarry made the final in Rome earlier this year, losing to Alexander Zverev, but has endured a torrid run of first-round losses since then, including at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, only winning his first match since that final last week at the Chengdu Open.

The Chilean led their head-to-head coming into Beijing having won their only previous match, on the grass at 's-Hertogenbosch back in 2019, but he was facing a very different player here and one who has utterly dominated hard-court tennis in 2024.

The defending champion made a statement start, holding to love, while his opponent appeared a little nervy, overhitting a couple of routine shots and unable to trouble Sinner on serve.

But the powerful Chilean looked more comfortable on his own serve and began to grow into the match, playing aggressively and serving and volleying well. A tricky opponent because of the huge speed with which he hits the ball, Jarry began to take time away from Sinner, who struggled to find much rhythm.

With the set on serve until 3-3, Jarry stepped up a gear. The world No. 28 set up a brilliant break point with a stunning forehand cross-court winner despite being pulled side to side and all over the court by his opponent. A return long offered Sinner a brief respite, but the Italian overcooked the next point and handed Jarry the crucial break, which the Chilean duly backed up with a hold for 5-3.

Sinner held to 15, forcing Jarry to serve out, and some nerves were apparent as a double fault brought the game to deuce. But Jarry's serving had proved impenetrable and his aggressive style throughout made the difference. A fifth ace of the match wrapped up the set in 39 minutes.

Sinner had not lost an opening round match this year and was clearly intent on not breaking that streak. He responded immediately with some immaculate serving and a hold to love to open the second set, before capitalising on a nervy double fault by Jarry to move ahead on the Chilean's serve.

A wild overhit by Jarry brought up a break point, and although he saved two, clawing back to 30-40 by winning a brilliant net exchange, he netted on the next point to hand over the early break.

Sinner moved smoothly to a 3-0 lead with another assured hold to love and put pressure on Jarry's serve again, beginning to read the Chilean's game more effectively.

But his opponent's huge wingspan and speed meant he could hold his own in the rallies and neutralise Sinner's phenomenal all-court coverage at the net, doing so effectively to move ahead in his next service game and getting on the board for 3-1 with another huge ace.

Watch as Team Europe lift the Laver Cup for a fifth time after comeback victory

Video credit: TNT Sports

He continued to trouble the world No. 1 on Sinner's next service game as the Italian overcooked two forehands and found himself in trouble, but Jarry failed to capitalise on a couple of second serves and the danger was averted.

Sinner had stepped up his aggression since losing the first set and kept the scoreboard pressure high, moving to 5-2 up with a businesslike hold to love, and piled pressure on Jarry in his next service game as the Chilean dropped from 40-0 up to deuce.

Some clutch serving rescued the game and forced Sinner to serve it out and, despite a first double fault opening the door for Jarry at 40-30, the Italian obliged to level the match at one set all.

His intensity continued at the start of the final set, breaking to 15 with a beautiful cross-court forehand winner and attacking every ball. Jarry continued to serve and volley well, but he cut a more forlorn figure compared to earlier in the match, dragged around the court at Sinner's will and struggling to make a dent on the Italian's serve.

A double break for Sinner felt inevitable as the Italian moved smoothly through the gears, intent on finishing the match as quickly as possible, and he broke with a pinpoint-accurate forehand into the deuce court corner to move 4-1 up.

Jarry rediscovered his earlier brilliance, stepping in and returning aggressively to move to 0-40 up on Sinner's serve, but Sinner withstood the pressure to win the next five points.

The Italian brought up match point with a ripping cross-court forehand and although a 12th ace from Jarry saved the first, he could not turn the tide, hitting long on Sinner's second match point to send the defending champion into the second round.

Cilic celebrates long-awaited title with Hangzhou Open victory over Zhizhen

Video credit: SNTV

Sinner recently weighed in on the ongoing debate around the tennis calendar, with high-ranking players including Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper expressing concerns about the number of compulsory tournaments and the toll the long season takes on the body.

The Italian brushed aside those concerns, suggesting that players could pick and choose most of the tournaments they attend to avoid fatigue, and has been careful in his own scheduling in recent weeks.

He did not compete in last weekend's Laver Cup or the Davis Cup group stage immediately after his US Open triumph, and has not entered the ATP 500-level tournament in Vienna this autumn, despite having the chance to defend the title he won last year.

He will subsequently lose the 500 ranking points associated with it but has competed in enough 500 tournaments - Rotterdam, Halle and this week in Beijing - over the year and has almost made his year-end world No. 1 ranking a mathematical certainty regardless of those points.

The world No. 1 will next play the winner of the first-round match between lucky loser Roman Safiullin and elder statesman Stan Wawrinka. The three-time major winner received a wildcard to the event.

- - -

Stream top tennis action live on Eurosport and discovery+

ATP Finals