Jannik Sinner Shines as Alcaraz Battles Injury at China Open

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner began his China Open campaign impressively by defeating Marin Cilic, a two-time finalist, with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory. This marks Sinner's return to form following his loss at the US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, which also saw him lose his ATP top ranking.

Expressing his thoughts post-match, Sinner, quoted by ATP, highlighted the importance of early-round focus, stating he aimed to prepare thoughtfully for the conditions and was satisfied with his performance against a formidable opponent like Cilic. Breaking Cilic early in both sets boosted his confidence in keeping control of the match.

In another match, world number one Carlos Alcaraz overcame a potential setback after injuring his ankle early on. Despite initial concerns, he managed a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 win over Sebastian Baez, according to Olympics.com. Alcaraz, although initially worried, was optimistic post-match about his recovery ahead of the next round.

(With inputs from agencies.)