(Beijing) Top seed Jannik Sinner came from behind to beat Roman Safiullin 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the China Open on Saturday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion fell behind again in the Chinese capital after Safiullin broke serve twice to win the first set.
Sinner’s power and precision on the baseline, however, allowed him to get points against the Russian. The Italian won seven consecutive games from 2-2 in the second set and was able to sign a courageous victory.
Sinner, who has reached the quarter-finals at every ATP tournament he has played in 2024, will now cross swords with Jiri Lehecka. The latter defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets of 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Also on Saturday, Italian Flavio Cabolli easily defeated Pavel Kotov 6-4, 6-2.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev plays his second-round match against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino later on Saturday.
In the women’s main draw, Aryna Sabalenka advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Mananchaya Sawangkaew.
PHOTO JADE GAO, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Aryna Sabalenka
“In the first set, I had a little trouble with the rhythm,” Sabalenka said. During the second run, everything started to work better. I think that’s why it was smoother and better quality. »
Sabalenka (No. 2) is the highest seed in Beijing in the absence of Poland’s Iga Swiatek. The winner of three major tournaments will now face the American Ashlyn Krueger, who showed the exit door to the New Zealander Lulu Sun in two sets of 6-1, 7-6 (4).
Italian Jasmine Paolini (No. 3) rallied after a disappointing first set to defeat Danish Clara Tauson 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. Paolini will face the Polish Magda Linette, after the 31e top seed also needed three sets to eliminate Moyuka Uchijima 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Daria Kasatkina (No. 9) defeated Croatian Jana Fett 6-1, 6-2. She will face the American Amanda Anisimova, who triumphed 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the expense of the Colombian Camila Osorio.
Barbora Krejcikova, Wimbledon champion, was defeated 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 by Romanian Jaqueline Cristian.
Japan Open
In Japan, Czech Tomas Machac surprised American Tommy Paul (No. 5) in three sets of 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) to advance to the quarter-finals.
PHOTO PHILIP FONG, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Tomas Machac
It’s a disappointing week for the high seeds at the Japan Open. The favorite, the American Taylor Fritz, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (no. 3) and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (no. 4) were all eliminated in the first round.
Dane Holger Rune (No. 6) is the highest seed still in contention for the title. He beat local favorite Yoshihito Nishioka 6-2, 6-4.
The reigning tournament champion, American Ben Shelton (No. 8), is the only other seed in the quarterfinals.
American Alex Michelsen joined his compatriot in the quarters following a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Australian Christopher O’Connell. He will now face Machac.
The Japanese Kei Nishikori beat Jordan Thompson in two sets of 6-2, 6-3 and he will cross swords with Rune.