Jannik Sinner overcame a mid-match scare against qualifier Terence Atmane to book his place in the quarter-finals of the China Open. 

Sinner defeated Atmane with relative ease in last month's semi-final at the Cincinnati Open, but he was made to work for his 6-4 5-7 6-0 victory in Beijing. 

The Italian will now take on Fabian Marozsan, who beat Alexandre Muller in straight sets, for a place in the final four. 

Sinner edged a tightly contested first set, defending three break points in the final game before taking the early advantage at the second time of asking. 

But Atmane roared back in the second, breaking the top seed's serve three times to ensure this enthralling encounter would go the distance. 

However, the Frenchman appeared to exert all of his energy heading into the decider, with Sinner able to take control of proceedings and seal his spot in the next round. 

Sinner clinched his victory in two hours and 22 minutes with a fine forehand to the left baseline that Atmane was unable to return. 

"The game style he plays is quite unique. He is a great, great player and has improved a lot again since Cincinnati," the world number two said.

"Today, he struggled a little bit in the third set with some cramp, but it was a tough, tricky second-round match.

"I was twice up with a break in the second set and I couldn't use it, but this is the sport and this happens.

"Maybe, the concentration went down a little bit at times and some nerves, but I am very happy to be through to the next round."

Another day, another win for Sinner

He seals his spot in the final with a 6-4 5-7 6-0 win over Atmane…@chinaopen | #2025ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/tD4AL9SHwT

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 27, 2025

Earlier in the day, third seed Alex de Minaur was also put through his paces to reach the last eight, battling his way past lucky loser Arthur Rinderknech in three sets. 

De Minaur earned a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-2) victory to advance to the quarter-finals, while also picking up a tour-leading 33rd hard-court triumph. 

Data Debrief: Sinner and De Minaur continue to thrive on hard courts

After losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 edition of the China Open, Sinner will be confident of reclaiming the crown he won in Beijing two years ago. 

Indeed, Sinner earned his 200th ATP-level match win on hard courts since the start of the 2020 season, becoming just the second player to win as many on the surface during that span after Daniil Medvedev (208).

But De Minaur also thrives in these conditions. He has now captured 15 victories on the surface at ATP 500 events in 2025, a total only bettered by Alcaraz (17).