Shanghai
\n Sinner speeds through in Shanghai, launches title defence<\/p>\n
Defending champion downs Altmaier, faces Griekspoor next<\/p>\n
October 04, 2025<\/p>\n
Pedro Pardo\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Jannik Sinner is chasing his 22nd tour-level title at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters.
\n By Andy West<\/p>\n
The Rolex Shanghai Masters<\/a> has not been a happy hunting ground for defending champions in recent years, but Jannik Sinner<\/a> made an impressive start to his bid for back-to-back titles on Saturday at the Chinese ATP Masters 1000. <\/p>\n The No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings eased past Daniel Altmaier<\/a> 6-3, 6-3 at Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena to kick-start his 2025 campaign. Sinner is bidding to become the first player to successfully defend the Shanghai title since Novak Djokovic<\/a> in 2013 and arrived there fresh from lifting an ATP 500 title in Beijing on Wednesday. Against Altmaier, he picked up where he left off in the Chinese capital by producing a rock-solid one-hour, 38-minute display. <\/p>\n Champion\u2019s start \u2728@janniksin<\/a> kickstarts his title defense with a 6-3 6-3 defeat of Altmaier.@SH_RolexMasters<\/a> | #RolexShanghaiMasters<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Mw0b1wfLES<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ATP Tour (@atptour) October 4, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Facing Altmaier for the first time since his shock defeat to the German at 2023 Roland Garros<\/a>, Sinner converted three of four break points he earned to set a third-round meeting with Tallon Griekspoor<\/a>. The Italian now owns a 23-2 record in China, where he has won three titles (Beijing 2023 and 2025, Shanghai 2024), and he will enter his clash with Griekspoor holding a 6-0 lead in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series. <\/p>\n With Carlos Alcaraz<\/a> missing Shanghai due to injury, the 24-year-old Sinner has the opportunity to boost his hopes of a return to World No. 1 this fortnight. If he beats Griekspoor, he will move to within 1,290 points of No. 1 Alcaraz in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, while he would close the gap to just 390 points by successfully defending his title. <\/p>\n Another member of the ATP No. 1 Club, Daniil Medvedev<\/a>, also booked his third-round spot in quickfire fashion on Saturday. The 16th seed, who rediscovered his form to reach the semi-finals in Beijing, settled quickly in Shanghai to overcome qualifier Dalibor Svrcina<\/a> 6-1, 6-1. Medvedev struck 22 winners and made just nine unforced errors in his 60-minute win. <\/p>\n Alejandro Davidovich Fokina<\/a> will be 2019 champion Medvedev\u2019s next opponent, after the Spaniard defeated Matteo Arnaldi<\/a> 6-4, 6-4, while Learner Tien<\/a>, who has defeated Medvedev twice in 2025 including in the Beijing semi-finals, is also alive in the same section of the draw. The #NextGenATP American rallied past Corentin Moutet<\/a> 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in his second-round match to set a meeting with Cameron Norrie<\/a>. <\/p>\n More to follow\u2026 <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n