While a lesser player might have struggled to recover from a US Open loss to Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner is anything but, proving so in Beijing. On Saturday, he survived a serious scare to outlast French qualifier Terence Atmane at the China Open; despite being the clear favorite, the four-time major champion was pushed to the limit. After taking the opening set 6-4, Sinner saw Atmane respond with remarkable resilience, breaking late to snatch the second 7-5 and force a deciding set on Diamond Court.

In the end, Sinner’s quality and fitness proved decisive, as he closed out the match 6-4, 5-7, 6-0 with his opponent visibly hampered by cramps in the final set. The clash has already been hailed as one of the best of the tournament, remembered not only for its intensity but also for the unusual moment that unfolded during the second set. And now, Jannik Sinner opens up after surviving Terence Atmane’s tough test in Beijing.

Jannik Sinner admits nerves but promises a stronger fight ahead

In his post-match interview, when asked, “How many players are there like Terence Atmane?” Jannik Sinner offered an honest reply. “Not many. That’s for sure,” the 24-year-old admitted. “The game style he plays is unique. He’s also a lefty. Great, great player. He’s improved a lot since Cincinnati.” And indeed, Atmane showed that progress. Just last month, Sinner had beaten him comfortably in the Cincinnati semi-finals, where the Frenchman enjoyed a breakthrough run to the last four. But in Beijing, the top seed was pushed far harder at the ATP 500 stage.

Anyway, after dropping a tight first set, Atmane broke Jannik Sinner’s serve three times in the second, using his depth and precision to rush the World No. 2 and level the match. The Frenchman threatened to hand Sinner just his sixth defeat of the season, but the Italian raised his aggression in the decider, eventually securing his 13th straight hard-court quarterfinal after two hours and 22 minutes. However, reflecting on the challenge, Jannik Sinner admitted, “Today he struggled a bit in the 3rd with some cramps. [But] It was a tricky, tricky 2nd round match. I was up twice a break in the 2nd, couldn’t use it… I felt a bit of nerves today…,” Sinner added.

Sinner further injected variety into his game against Atmane, mixing in drop shots, slices, and serve-and-volley plays. After the US Open loss against Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner believed he needed to change up his normal playstyle. And it’s clear from this match that his evolution has begun in just a few short weeks.

Reflecting afterward, he admitted, “I tried some serve and volleys. At times it worked really well, sometimes not. I also sometimes have to find the right shot also to do it. Sometimes I don’t wait for the right one. But the more things I’m trying to add now, hopefully more positives come in a couple months or so. But again, I try to fight… Being again in the quarters means a lot to me. So let’s see what’s coming next round.” 

And as much as Terence Atmane pushed him to the edge, World No. 2 Jannik Sinner turned a tough battle into a spectacular spectacle for fans to witness. How, you ask?

Jannik Sinner vs. Terence Atmane turns wild with 16 straight points against serve

As the second set unfolded, both Jannik Sinner and Terence Atmane raised their level on return. Incredibly, 16 consecutive points went against serve, with each player broken to love twice in succession.

However Atmane broke the streak by hitting two aces to move 30-0 up, eventually holding serve. That crucial moment allowed the Frenchman to steal a set from Sinner, becoming only the ninth player to do so in 2025. For Sinner, who rarely faces such setbacks, Atmane’s performance was a genuine test.

Coming off his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz earlier this month, Jannik Sinner has already spoken about the need to adapt his game and become a more “unpredictable” player. Determined to close the gap in his rivalry with the Spaniard, the World No. 2 revealed that he is willing to endure short-term losses if it helps him grow and expand his tactical arsenal.

Now, with his hard-fought victory behind him, Sinner turns his attention to the quarterfinals of the 2025 China Open, where he faces Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan on Monday, September 29. That said, can he build on this momentum and show that his adjustments are paying off? Or will Marozsan pose another tricky hurdle on Sinner’s path?