Preview ATP China Open Final: Jannik Sinner targeting third title of 2025 against young talent Learner Tien

The final two standing in the China Open are Jannik Sinner and Learner Tien, with the pair set to battle it out for glory in Beijing.

It has been a dream week for the 19-year-old, making his first quarter-final in a Masters 1000 event. He did not settle with that, reaching new heights in Asia for a player who is touted to have a brilliant future in the game. It would be an incredible return if he would go on and clinch the title, but standing in his way is the former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion, who once again has looked imperious on the court, as he attempts to get over the agony of losing his US Open title to Carlos Alcaraz.

The Italian made it to his first China Open final back in 2023, defeating 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in a tight contest. He had the chance to be the first player to win back-to-back titles in the event since Novak Djokovic in 2015 but was edged out of a thriller against Alcaraz. With the Spaniard competing in Tokyo over the past week, Sinner traversed to Beijing as the huge favourite to claim the title.

There have been no problems on the court for the Italian, who defeated Marin Cilic, Terence Atmane, and Fabian Marozsan to set up a clash against world number eight Alex de Minaur. Sinner took command in the first set but was pegged back by the Aussie following an array of squandered break points from both players, with Sinner even admitting that he should have taken one of those chances. It did not matter though, with him nicking a double-break in the final set to send him on his way to his seventh final of the year.

This is the first final he has played in without facing Alcaraz since the Australian Open, where he overcame Alexander Zverev in straight sets for his second major in Melbourne. He has only managed to defeat Alcaraz once this year, with it coming in the Wimbledon final. The last time he lost a final which was not against the Spaniard came back in 2023, against Djokovic at the ATP Finals. This is an omimuos sign for anyone prepared to challenge him on the court.

Not many people would have had Tien as a finalist in Beijing, but that is tennis for you. The young American has had to defeat some terrific players, and has been handed some luck along the way with a few retirements, but there is no disputing his class.

He began with a comeback win over Francisco Cerundolo, before comfortably disposing Flavio Cobolli in straight sets. He had the crowd with him against Lorenzo Musetti after the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist became a very unpopular figure in China, and it would get worse after retiring in the third set while 3-0 down. Tien would come up against Medvedev in the semi-finals, looking to prevent a repeat of the 2023 final. It was looking like the Russian would get another shot at the China Open title, as he came back from a 3-0 deficit to clinch a late break of serve to wrap up the first set. It was then his turn to go 3-0 up, before going 5-3 and serving for the match, but Tien skilfully broke back and won the remaining three games to make Medvedev rue a missed opportunity, before he retired with the young American 4-0 ahead.

This will be the first time the pair have met. Tien has the potential to give Sinner a headache in tomorrow's final but will have to take any opportunity that comes his way. If he can do this, he will win his first senior title, and close in on the seeding positions for Grand Slam events.