Defending China Open champion Jannik Sinner set up a thrilling final showdown with Carlos Alcaraz after beating Bu Yunchaokete.
World number one Jannik Sinner was clinical when he needed to be against Chinese home favorite Bu Yunchaokete, eventually advancing to the China Open final in straight sets.
Bu became the first Chinese man to reach the last four in Beijing, giving a buoyant home crowd something to shout about.
The world number 96 defeated Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti, before shocking fourth seed Andrey Rublev in the quarter-final.
Trading vicious balls from the back of the court, something most ATP players struggle to do against Sinner, Bu was only let down by his lack of ability to match the world number one at the crucial moments.
Having lost the first set by just a single break, the 23-year-old Italian won his 17th tie-break of his last 18 to force his way into the final.
Jannik Sinner explains why he was ‘surprised’ during his semi-final
The world number one has endured a challenging six weeks, despite managing to win his first US Open title in that time.
Having initially been cleared of alleged doping, the World Anti-Doping Agency announced last week that they had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), suggesting Sinner should be banned for “between one and two years”.
Still unbeaten since the initial news broke after his victory in Cincinnati, Sinner is, perhaps understandably, still coming under rather a lot of scrutiny.
The world number one, now up against a home favorite, admitted he was taken aback at how he was received by the crowd.
“I was actually quite surprised by how fair the crowd was. It was a great atmosphere, with a full stadium. It was an honor to play there, to be part of the match,” he said via Punto de Break.
“I thought the match was going to be more evenly matched in the second set, and that’s exactly what people wanted to see; they wanted to see a great match. I always think that, especially in the night sessions, you have to feel honored to step onto the court because these are special occasions, no matter where you are.”
The Italian went on to compare his US Open final against homeboy Taylor Fritz, to this match-up against China’s own Bu.
“When you play against a player who is from the country where you are playing, it’s a bit different,” he explained. “But yes, it was a very fair crowd. It’s also the case in the US Open against Americans; it’s different, but they are still fair. It’s always nice to be part of these matches.”
Jannik Sinner’s temperament is remarkable given the circumstances
Sinner explained how he’s dealt with pressure this year, revealing that he has sought constant improvement despite his largely dominant 2024.
While his shot-making has been the main things that’s propelled him to the very top, his resilience is one of his defining traits, allowing him to battle through tough matches and overcome challenging situations.
His mental toughness, combined with his ability to adapt his game, has helped him secure crucial wins even when under pressure.
Sinner’s relentless work ethic and determination make him a formidable opponent on the ATP Tour, capable of bouncing back from setbacks.
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