ATP Beijing: Jannik Sinner makes his debut against veteran Marin Cilic

Jannik Sinner, forgotten the disappointment over the defeat in the US Open final, is ready to return to the court. After two weeks of rest, the world No. 2 will star at the Beijing ATP tournament, also known as the China Open.

The draw for the men’s draw has given Jannik Sinner a decidedly intriguing opponent. He is Marin Cilic, winner of the US Open in 2014 (the only Slam won in his career). Despite 36 years on his shoulders, the Croatian tennis player is still capable of delivering strong performances.

Recently, Marin Cilic spoke about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, calling them “special”. Now he will have a chance to test the Italian on the court, in the first round of the Beijing ATP 500 (the two have already faced each other once with success of the Italian). It is worth mentioning that Jannik Sinner, last year, lost, in the final, to Carlos Alcaraz while he won the trophy in the 2024’edition.

Not the luckiest draw for the other Italians entered in the tournament. Flavio Cobolli drew the hostile Andrey Rublev while Lorenzo Musetti, a great protagonist at the Chengdu tournament, will face the French Mpetshi Perricard, a tennis player who makes his best weapon his serve. Lorenzo Sonego, finally, draws Alexander Zverev. All three of the Azzurri are on the opposite side of the scoreboard from Jannik Sinner.