BEIJING, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- Jannik Sinner of Italy and Iga Swiatek both progressed at the China Open on Monday, as the tournament's leading names continued their charge in the Chinese capital.
Sinner, the 24-year-old world No. 2, reached the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-5 win over Hungary's Fabian Marozsan. The Italian, last year's finalist in Beijing, looked in full control in the opening set, breaking three times to close it out within half an hour.
But the second set proved trickier. Sinner created four break chances in the first eight games but could not convert, as Marozsan, ranked No. 57, lifted his first-serve percentage and found more depth on his groundstrokes. At 4-4, the Hungarian broke serve to move ahead 5-4, capitalizing on a rare lapse despite Sinner saving one chance with an ace.
The top seed hit back immediately, breaking to love for 5-5 before holding serve to move ahead. He then sealed victory with another love game break in the 12th, wrapping up the win to book a place in the semifinals.
"He was serving much better in the second set and playing more aggressively," Sinner said. "I had some chances at 4-3 but couldn't take them. It was a very tough match, but I'm happy with the way I closed it."
Sinner will now face third seed Alex de Minaur, who progressed after 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik retired while trailing 4-1. De Minaur, who ranks world No. 8, had already broken twice in the opening set when Mensik stopped with an apparent injury. The 26-year-old Australian, a Washington champion and US Open quarterfinalist this season, is aiming to secure his debut berth at the ATP Finals in Turin.
"It's going to be a big challenge," Sinner said of the upcoming clash. "Alex has improved a lot over the last few months and is very consistent. Here the conditions are different, so I have to be ready for adjustments. I'm looking forward to it."
On the women's side, Swiatek advanced to the round of 16 after Colombia's Camila Osorio retired before the second set. The world No. 2 dominated the first, winning six games in a row, before Osorio, who ranks No. 83, called it quits due to injury.
"For sure I'm sorry for Camila because she's always giving her 100%," Swiatek said. "It's always sad to see that, because we want to compete, but I felt I played good in the first set and really used my game to push her."
Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion who lifted the trophy in Beijing in her debut appearance in 2023, has now extended her unbeaten run at the National Tennis Center. She also registered her 400th career win on Monday, adding another milestone to a season that already included her Wimbledon triumph and a recent title in Seoul.
The Polish star also spoke about her growing fan base in China during the press conference.
"There's a big difference here - the fans are much more enthusiastic and positive. Even if I have to go, they still shout nice things to me," she said. "Today the match was short, so I wanted to spend more time with them. The support is amazing, maybe the biggest I get on the whole tour."
Swiatek will next face American Emma Navarro, who advanced when France's Lois Boisson retired after dropping the first set 6-2, and trailed 1-0 in the second.
Earlier in the day, women's fourth seed Mirra Andreeva of Russia moved into the round of 16 with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Spain's Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. ■
