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The Italian defeated Atmane with relative ease last month in the semi-finals in Cincinnati, where the Frenchman had enjoyed a breakthrough run to the last four.

However, the No.1 seed in Beijing was pushed far harder at the ATP 500 event this time around.

After losing a tight first set, Atmane broke Sinner’s serve three times in the second set to level, frequently rushing the Italian world No.2.

But the 23-year-old couldn't inflict a sixth defeat of the season on Sinner, who upped his aggression in the deciding set to advance to his 13th consecutive hard-court quarter-final after two hours and 22 minutes.

“The game style he plays is quite unique and he is a lefty and we don’t have so many. He is a great, great player and has improved a lot again since Cincinnati,” Sinner said.

“Today he struggled a little bit in the third set with some cramp but it was a tough, tricky second-round match.

"I was twice up with a break in the second set and I couldn’t use it, but this is the sport and this happens.

"Maybe the concentration went down a little bit at times and some nerves, but I am very happy to be through to the next round.”

Sinner has now won his past 61 matches on hard courts against players outside the top 10 and could extend that run when he meets world No.57 Fabian Marozsan in the last eight, who defeated Alexandre Muller 6-3 7-6 (7-5) to reach the quarter-finals.