Alex de Minaur Admits Sinner’s “Level Was Too High” as Key Reason for China Open Semifinal Loss
Australian world No. 8 Alex de Minaur admitted in his post-match press conference that Jannik Sinner’s superior power and consistency—described as “level was too high”—was the primary reason he couldn’t break through in their lopsided rivalry, after falling 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in the China Open semifinals on September 30, 2025. The 26-year-old, who fought valiantly to snag a set for the first time since 2020, reflected on the 2-hour-20-minute battle on Beijing’s Diamond Court, where Sinner extended his perfect 11-0 head-to-head lead, dropping just one set across all encounters.
The Match: A Gritty Fight, But Sinner’s Edge Prevails
De Minaur entered as the third seed on a hard-court hot streak (34 wins in 2025, most on tour), advancing with a 6-4, 6-0 rout of Bu Yunchaokete, a three-setter over Arthur Rinderknech (6-7(3), 6-2, 7-6(5)), and a walkover when Jakub Mensik retired injured at 4-1. Sinner, the top seed and 2023 Beijing champion, was equally formidable, surviving a second-set scare against Fabian Marozsan (6-1, 7-5) for his 40th win of the season.
The opener saw Sinner break early for 3-1 with blistering backhands, holding de Minaur to 14% return points on serve. De Minaur rallied in the second, breaking at 4-3 with a stunning “insane” 20-shot rally (featuring dives, lobs, and a down-the-line winner) that went viral, but Sinner regrouped in the decider, breaking twice for the 6-2 finish amid de Minaur’s 28 unforced errors vs. Sinner’s 18.
Sinner praised the intensity post-match: “I felt like the level was very high… He played really well in the second set.” De Minaur, earning $139,250 for his semifinal run (his fourth of 2025), was candid: “Jannik’s level was too high today—his power from the baseline and serve (86% first-serve points won) just overwhelmed me in the key moments. I had chances early, but couldn’t convert, and once he gets ahead, it’s tough to claw back against someone that consistent.”
The Rivalry: Sinner’s Unbreakable Hold
Sinner’s dominance dates to their 2019 Next Gen ATP Finals meeting, with de Minaur’s lone set win here marking progress but highlighting the Italian’s growth (74-5 on hard since 2024). De Minaur leads Australia in wins (47-17 overall) but remains 0-11 lifetime, often citing Sinner’s “unreturnable” groundstrokes as the crux.
| Date/Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score | Key Notes |
|—————–|———|——–|——-|———–|
| Sep 2025 (China Open SF) | Hard | Sinner | 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 | De Minaur’s first set since 2020; viral rally in second. |
| Jan 2025 (Australian Open QF) | Hard | Sinner | 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 | Sinner’s AO title run; de Minaur’s home Slam exit. |
| Oct 2024 (Shanghai Masters R16) | Hard | Sinner | 7-6(3), 6-3 | Tight opener; Sinner’s Masters defense. |
| Jun 2024 (Halle SF) | Grass | Sinner | 6-1, 6-3 | Sinner’s grass prep for Wimbledon. |
| Mar 2024 (Miami Masters R32) | Hard | Sinner | 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-3 | De Minaur pushed to three sets. |
De Minaur’s Takeaway: Focus on Growth
De Minaur, chasing his first ATP 500 title since Acapulco 2024, viewed the loss as fuel: “It’s frustrating to be 0-11, but Jannik’s the best hard-court player right now—his level forces you to elevate. I’ll take the fight I showed and build on it for Shanghai.” With 47 wins tying his career high, he’s locked for ATP Finals but eyes a top-5 year-end push. Sinner advances to the final vs. Daniil Medvedev (his fifth straight Beijing SF), aiming to close the No. 1 gap on Carlos Alcaraz.
Fans hailed de Minaur’s resilience on X, with #DeMinaurSinner clips of the rally amassing 500k views. At 26, his speed remains elite, but cracking Sinner’s armor is the next frontier.
