In an electrifying showdown at the China Open in Beijing, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz claimed victory over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner with a final score of 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3). This win ended Sinner’s remarkable 15-match winning streak, which included his second Grand Slam title of the season at the US Open. After three hours and 21 minutes of intense action, Alcaraz improved his head-to-head record against Sinner to 6-4, delivering an outstanding performance with 55 winners throughout the match.
Reflecting on the contest, Alcaraz said, “It was a really close match. Jannik showed once again that he’s the best player in the world, at least for me. The level that he’s playing is unbelievable.” He noted his missed opportunities in the first set but expressed pride in his overall performance, highlighting, “I’m really happy that in the third set, even though he broke my serve again and it was close, I gave myself the chance to keep going.”
After a surprising second-round exit at the US Open, Alcaraz appeared rejuvenated in the weeks leading up to this match. He jumped ahead early, taking a 5-2 lead, but Sinner fought back, breaking Alcaraz’s serve when he was serving for the first set. Despite saving three set points, the Spaniard ultimately lost the first set in a tiebreak.
Sinner’s mental resilience was evident, yet Alcaraz retaliated in the second set, showcasing his own determination by saving two break points in a lengthy eighth game to level the match. With momentum shifting back to the 21-year-old, Alcaraz continued to apply pressure on Sinner in the deciding set.
Alcaraz managed to break Sinner to take a 2-1 lead, but after missing two additional chances in the fifth game, the top seed rallied again. The tension escalated as the match reached a decisive tiebreak. Sinner initially took a 3-0 lead, but Alcaraz responded spectacularly, winning seven consecutive points to secure his victory.
In other news from Shanghai, Britain’s Dan Evans, who had fought through qualifying, faced a heartbreaking first-round exit after losing a decisive tiebreak to Brazil’s Thiago Seyboth Wild, with scores of 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (3).