World NO. 2 Jannik Sinner vows to tweak his game after US Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner is still feeling the aftershocks of his US Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz earlier this month. The Italian, who lifted titles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this season, admitted the loss in New York left him reflecting deeply on his game — and has pushed him to make a series of adjustments as he prepares for the China Open in Beijing.

Sinner fell in four sets against the Spaniard, who levelled their growing rivalry by extending his head-to-head record to 10–5. It was a sobering reminder of how small the margins are at the top of men’s tennis, and Sinner insists he cannot afford to stand still.

“We’ve been reflecting a lot on that final,” the 23-year-old said before his Beijing opener. “We are working on new things. We are changing a lot of small things. The amount of mistakes at the moment is for sure a little bit higher, but I hope that this recovers. It’s just a question of time.”

For Sinner, the distinction between the practice court and match day execution is clear. “One thing is practise and one thing is match. Let’s see. I’m very motivated. It’s great to work on something new, then we see how this ends up. We always try to move forward. One step in front is always better than two steps back,” he explained.

That forward momentum could be tested again soon. Alcaraz is competing in Tokyo this week, but both players are set to appear in Shanghai in October, raising the possibility of another high-stakes clash.

Sinner knows the psychological edge could be crucial if they meet again so soon after New York. “Let’s see what we can do,” he said. “I’m very motivated.”

The Italian arrives in Beijing as top seed, with his sights set on a third title of 2025. It is a city he knows well: he triumphed there in 2023 before losing in the final to Alcaraz a year later. The ghosts of that defeat still linger, but Sinner insists he has the tools to go further this time.

He will also have fresh support in his corner. Sinner has added experienced physiotherapist Alejandro Resnicoff to his team. “He’s a very experienced physio, obviously being on the ATP Tour for 15 years,” Sinner said. “He also respects how we are as a team. It’s not that he comes in and changes everything. If he sees that we could improve something for my body, he’s here to help. That’s how it works.”

Sinner has crossed paths with Resnicoff before but says having him onboard full-time is a privilege. “He’s super, super experienced,” he added.

The world No. 2 opens his Beijing campaign against Marin Cilic, a former finalist in the Chinese capital. The Croatian is not the force he once was but remains a dangerous opponent, particularly for a player still testing out tweaks under match pressure.

Sinner’s season record stands at 37 wins to five defeats, and he has already secured his place at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, where he will defend the year-end title he won last year. With Alcaraz back at No. 1 after New York, Sinner knows that every tournament between now and November carries weight.

Titles, rankings, and pride are all in play. But for now, the Italian insists it’s about refinement. “We always try to move forward,” he said. “That’s the most important thing.”