'It’s difficult to add new things to your tennis': Jannik Sinner on constant improvements

Jannik Sinner had to dig deep before booking his spot in the China Open quarterfinals. The World No. 2 overcame a serious test from France’s Terence Atmane, needing three sets to finally wrap up the win 6-4, 5-7, 6-0. For long stretches of the match, the Italian found himself under pressure against a dangerous left-hander who mixed explosive shot-making with fearless intent.

The match appeared to tilt Sinner’s way when he took the opening set 6-4, but Atmane responded with aggression in the second, forcing errors from the Italian and converting key chances. Sinner admitted afterwards that he had opportunities to close things out earlier, but failed to capitalise when it mattered most. Suddenly, what looked like a routine passage to the last eight turned into a tense battle.

By the time the third set arrived, however, Sinner raised his level to a point where Atmane could no longer keep up. The Italian’s returning grew sharper, his forehand more commanding, and his confidence soared after an early break. From there, he never looked back, rolling through the final set 6-0 to underline the difference in quality and consistency at the decisive moments.

“It was a tough match, that's for sure,” Sinner reflected afterwards. “I remembered our match in Cincinnati, so I had an idea of what to expect. I had chances to close it out earlier but didn’t take them. These things happen. I noticed he was struggling a bit with cramps in the last games, but overall I’m happy to be in the quarterfinals.”

Praise for Atmane 

If doubts lingered heading into the deciding set, Sinner quickly erased them. An immediate break of serve boosted his confidence, and the 23-year-old surged through the final frame without dropping a game. His forehand dictated rallies, his return neutralised Atmane’s serve, and his composure ensured no further drama.

“Whenever you go to a third set, anything can happen,” Sinner explained. “But I felt good energy, broke his serve in the first game, and that changed everything. From the double break onwards, the match felt under control.”

Despite the lopsided final set, Sinner was quick to acknowledge his opponent’s qualities. “There aren’t many players like him on the circuit,” Sinner said. “He’s left-handed, he plays with a lot of creativity, and he’s improved since Cincinnati."

"Today, he had some physical problems but, for a second-round match, he's a very tough opponent. Perhaps his concentration dropped a bit in the third set, but it's normal, this is sport, we go through many phases and it's normal to get a bit nervous in those moments”.

Building new layers in his game

Sinner’s domination has largely been built on his rock-solid baseline game, the Italian is determined not to stand still. Against Atmane, he mixed in a few serve-and-volley plays and experimented with shortening points, showcasing a willingness to step outside his comfort zone. He admitted those plays are still a work in progress, but they reflect a bigger picture: the need to evolve.

“It’s difficult to add new things to your tennis, but I try,” Sinner said. “Sometimes it works, sometimes not. I feel I need to hit the perfect shot to control that play, and many times I don’t wait for the right moment. But I hope that if I keep working, in a couple of months those things will start bringing me positive results.”

The Italian is particularly focused on diversifying his serve patterns and improving transition play, areas where the world’s very best can tilt tight matches in their favour.