Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the top seed at the strong ATP 500 event in Beijing. The Italian will compete for the first time since winning the second Major title at the US Open, hoping to extend his ATP 500 streak.
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On the other hand, the Spaniard suffered an early loss in New York and bounced back at the Davis Cup and Laver Cup, looking for more in the Chinese capital. Two great rivals met in last year's Beijing semi-final, with Sinner notching a 7-6, 6-1 victory in an hour and 55 minutes, prevailing in the opener and storming over Alcaraz in set number two for a place in his 12th ATP final.
The Italian toppled the Spaniard for the fourth time in the seventh duel, continuing where he left in Miami in March. World no. 7 played better in the decisive moments, denying seven of nine break points and keeping the pressure on the return.
World no. 2 struggled behind the initial shot, dropping half of the points and getting broken five times from eight chances presented to his opponent.
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Carlos could not find the winning formula after missing the first serve, spraying too many errors and trailing in the shortest and mid-range rallies.
Alcaraz was off to a good start, forcing the rival's mistake in the first game of the encounter and building an early advantage. The Spaniard held for 2-0 and made another push on the return in the next one, creating two break chances.
The Italian saved them and held, reducing the deficit and gaining confidence. Sinner pulled the break back in game four before experiencing another loose service game. World no. 7 netted a forehand at 2-2, suffering the second break and sending world no.
2 in front. Carlos could not build on that, netting a forehand and losing serve at love in the sixth game, bringing his rival back to the positive side. There were no chances for the returners in the remaining games, with Alcaraz holding in game 12 with an ace to introduce a tie break.
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The Spaniard netted a routine forehand in the second game to fall behind.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz lead the ATP 500 Beijing draw.
He added another forehand mistake to his tally in the seventh point, propelling his opponent 5-2 ahead.
The younger player grabbed two mini-breaks before placing another forehand into the net, offering Jannik two set points. World no. 7 seized the first with a forehand return winner, moving 7-6 in front after an hour and 11 minutes and generating a massive boost ahead of set number two.
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The Italian drew the Spaniard's backhand error in the first game of the second set, moving a set and a break in front. Alcaraz made a push on the return in games two and four, generating five break points. Sinner kept his composure and denied them, forging a 3-1 advantage and moving closer to the finish line.
Carlos could not deliver a break from 40-0 in the fourth game, paying the price in the next one. He wasted a 40-15 lead and played a wayward forehand, dropping serve again and falling 4-1 behind. World no. 2 served to stay in the match at 1-5 and played another loose service game.
He netted a backhand and suffered another break, propelling Sinner over the top. Jannik and Carlos are the top seeds in Beijing this year, hoping to reach the final and embrace their tenth meeting, the third in 2024.
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Their main rivals are Grigor Dimitrov, Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, who will try to spoil the top seeds' party. The Italian and the Spaniard shared the Major trophies this year, and their most recent duel came in the Roland Garros semi-final.
The Spaniard prevailed 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in four hours and nine minutes, overcoming two deficits and moving into his third Major final. Alcaraz lost the third set but took charge in the closing stages, presenting 11 consecutive holds by the end of the duel and emerging over the top against the newly-crowned world no.
1. Carlos fired 65 winners and 58 unforced errors, attacking and overpowering his great rival. They both secured six breaks, and the Spaniard presented his in the pivotal moments, crossing the finish line first despite taking two points less than his opponent.
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Alcaraz made a slow start, losing serve three times in the opening set and falling behind. Sinner held in the eighth game, forging a 6-2 advantage in 40 minutes.
Struggling to follow that pace, Carlos found himself 6-2, 2-0 behind before launching his comeback. The younger player pulled the break back in the fourth game with a forehand winner and delivered another two games later for a 4-2 lead.
The Spaniard closed the set with a service winner at 5-3, leveling the overall score after an hour and a half. Despite physical issues, Jannik recovered his game in the third set, earning back-to-back breaks and holding at 15 in game nine for two sets to one advantage.
They served well in the fourth set, producing nine good holds. The Italian wished for another reliable serving performance at 4-5 and cracked under pressure. He missed a routine smash and suffered a break after Alcaraz's backhand winner, with the Spaniard taking the set 6-4 and forcing a decider after three hours and 15 minutes.
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Carlos clinched another break in the second game of the final set with a forehand winner and landed a drop shot winner in the next one for a massive 3-0 lead. The Spaniard held after a deuce in the seventh game for 5-2 and forced the rival's mistake in the ninth game, sealing the deal and moving into the title clash.
