Jannik Sinner continued to showcase his resilience on the court, making headlines with his remarkable performance at the ongoing tournament in Beijing. After facing the challenging opponent Roman Safiullin, Sinner managed to rally from a set down to secure a hard-fought victory with scores of 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. This win marks his second consecutive comeback, a testament to his determination and skill, allowing him to maintain an impressive streak of reaching at least the quarter-finals in every tour-level event he has participated in during 2024.
While his match was unfolding, the spotlight shifted slightly as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced their intention to appeal a previous verdict that had cleared Sinner of doping charges related to the anabolic steroid clostebol. Sinner had tested positive for the substance in March but was exonerated by an independent tribunal in August after it was determined that he was not at fault. WADA’s appeal now moves the decision-making process to the prestigious Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland, adding an extra layer of pressure on the young Italian player.
In the upcoming quarter-finals, Sinner is set to face an equally formidable opponent, Jiri Lehecka, who also earned his spot in the last eight by overcoming Roberto Bautista Agut in a compelling match that ended with scores of 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Sinner’s performance has been closely watched, especially amidst the backdrop of the doping controversy, making each match even more significant as he advances deeper into the tournament.
Meanwhile, the men’s draw saw third seed Daniil Medvedev deliver a strong performance against Adrian Mannarino, winning 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, thus setting up a thrilling matchup with Italy’s rising prospect Flavio Cobolli, who recently eliminated qualifier Pavel Kotov with a convincing scoreline of 6-4, 6-2.
In parallel, the women’s competition has also been electrifying. US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka displayed her dominance by cruising into the third round after a decisive 6-4, 6-1 victory over Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Sabalenka, a three-time major winner, is now looking ahead to her next match against American Ashlyn Krueger, who defeated New Zealand’s Lulu Sun with a tight score of 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
Rounding out the highlights from Beijing, Qinwen Zheng showcased her strong form as she easily dispatched Kamilla Rakhimova with a stunning 6-1, 6-1 win, energizing a local crowd of 15,000 upon her return to the tournament. Zheng, the fifth seed, took just over an hour to secure her victory and will now prepare for a clash with Nadia Podoroska in the next round.
In Japan, Tomas Machac pulled off an upset by defeating fifth-seeded Tommy Paul, securing his spot in the quarter-finals with a dynamic 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) victory. This sets the stage for an intriguing competition as Machac partnered with British player Jack Draper in the doubles draw. The duo triumphed over the French pair of Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in a closely contested match, winning 5-7, 6-2, 10-8 to advance to the semi-finals. Draper, known as the British No. 1, will also be making his return to singles action in Japan, facing Ugo Humbert for a chance to progress to the semi-finals, with the match scheduled for around 7 am.
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