World No. 2 Jannik Sinner returned to competitive tennis for the first time since losing his world No. 1 ranking at the US Open final. In his first match in over two weeks, the Italian star defeated Marin Čilić in straight sets at the China Open in Beijing.
During his post-match press conference, Sinner addressed questions about his ranking change and his season’s outlook.
What Did Jannik Sinner Say About Losing World No. 1 Ranking?
Sinner showed no signs of rustiness in his first match since the US Open defeat. He dominated Čilić with a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory in the opening round of the China Open. The Italian landed 77% of his first serves and saved the only break point he faced during the match. Čilić, ranked 97th in the world, was looking to end a losing streak that stretched back to the Wimbledon fourth round.
Following the match, Sinner was asked about losing his World No. 1 ranking to Carlos Alcaraz during his press conference. The Italian provided thoughtful insights about the ranking situation, saying,
“No, I don’t think it’s pressure off or on. The season went how it went. Yes, we split the Grand Slams, but we still had two very different seasons,” Sinner said when questioned about whether losing the ranking took pressure off him.
He acknowledged Alcaraz’s success while talking about his own performance, stating, “I’m very, very happy with the season I have played or am playing because it was remarkable from my side, what I did. But also what Carlos is doing, winning many, many titles this year.”
MORE: Jannik Sinner Opens up About His Coaching Team Move Ahead of China Open
He concluded on a positive note, saying, “I’m very happy with the season I’ve played. The ranking, it comes and goes, so let’s see.”
Hello Beijing 👋🏻 pic.twitter.com/qJXdINYV8v
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) September 25, 2025
Following the match, Sinner announced his dominant arrival in Beijing by uploading a post on social media, writing, “Hello Beijing 👋🏻”.
What Is The Carlos Alcaraz-Sinner Rivalry Like in 2025?
Sinner’s ranking change came after his four-set loss to Alcaraz in the US Open final on September 7. Alcaraz won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his second US Open title and sixth Grand Slam overall. This victory allowed the Spaniard to reclaim the No. 1 spot he last held in 2023.
The two rivals split the four Grand Slams in 2025, just as last year. Sinner won the Australian Open and Wimbledon, while Alcaraz captured Roland Garros and the US Open. During the season, Alcaraz won seven ATP titles with a remarkable 61-6 win-loss record with a dominant form since April, including a 46-2 record.
Sinner’s 65-week consecutive reign as world No. 1, from June 2024 to September 2025, represents the 12th-longest uninterrupted streak in ATP history. Among first-time No. 1 players, Sinner’s 65-week streak ranks fourth all-time behind Federer, Connors, and Lleyton Hewitt. The Italian won two titles during his 2025 campaign – the Australian Open and Wimbledon – finishing with a 37-5 record.
Alcaraz leads their head-to-head rivalry with a huge margin of 10-5 after the US Open victory. Both players have combined to win the last eight Grand Slam tournaments, establishing the most dominant rivalry in current men’s tennis.
