'A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE'

Sinner thanks team after 3rd title of year in Beijing; Swiatek suffers rare bagel

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Italian four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner playing solidly to beat American teenager Learner Tien in the China Open final on Oct 1. PHOTO: REUTERS

(REUTERS)

Jannik Sinner was back to his best in a 6-2, 6-2 victory over American teenager Learner Tien in the China Open final on Oct 1, as the world No. 2 picked up his third title of the year and 21st tour-level trophy overall.

Carlos Alcaraz’s Japan Open title a day earlier and Sinner’s triumph marked the first time since 2020 that the top two ranked players both claimed trophies in the same week, after Novak Djokovic (Dubai) and Rafael Nadal (Acapulco) managed the feat.

“It’s a very, very special place for me,” Sinner said during the trophy presentation in Beijing.

“My team, thanks for understanding and working with me. Not all the team is here, hopefully the rest are watching from home. We'll try to improve and push for more and see what the rest of the season looks like.

“But I’m very happy to share this (trophy) with all of you.”