Carlos Alcaraz, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, has emerged victorious in the China Open, defeating world number one Jannik Sinner in a thrilling three-set battle. Alcaraz’s triumph marks his fourth ATP crown of the year and his 16th overall.
The match began with both players facing pressure on their service games. Alcaraz, seeded second, broke Sinner’s serve early on to take a 3-1 lead. However, Sinner, who has been under scrutiny due to a doping case, fought back to break Alcaraz’s serve and force a tie break. Sinner ultimately won the first set 7-6 (8/6).
The second set was equally competitive, with both players holding serve until Alcaraz broke Sinner’s serve at 5-4. Alcaraz then held his serve to win the set 6-4 and force a third set.
The decider went to a tie break, where Alcaraz finally prevailed on his first match point. The victory ended Sinner’s run of 14 consecutive victories and saw him lose his Beijing title.
Alcaraz’s triumph is a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite dropping the first set, he fought back to win the match in three hours and 21 minutes. The victory also marks Alcaraz’s return to the world number two ranking, behind Sinner.
Sinner’s performance in Beijing has been overshadowed by the doping case that has been reignited. In March, he tested positive for a steroid, but tennis authorities cleared him of wrongdoing. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the decision and is seeking a ban of up to two years.
Despite the controversy, Sinner has continued to play at a high level. He won the US Open in September and was the top seed in Beijing. However, Alcaraz’s victory shows that Sinner is not invincible.
