Jannik Sinner, the world number one and defending champion, overcame a spirited challenge from Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete to reach the China Open final on Tuesday. Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding his steroid case and the fervent support for his opponent, Sinner prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) to set up a title clash with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner, who has won more matches than any other player on tour this season, faced a determined Bu, who was competing in the biggest match of his career. The Italian faced early pressure on his serve but managed to fend off the threat. As the first set progressed, Sinner’s experience and composure proved too much for Bu.
In the second set, the match went to a tiebreak, where Sinner’s resilience shone through. He served an ace to convert his third match point after a grueling two-hour battle.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz continued his impressive form with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Russian third seed Daniil Medvedev. The four-time Grand Slam champion looked sharp and confident, not dropping a set throughout the tournament.
“I think I played really well,” said Alcaraz. “I felt great on the court once again, so I’m really happy about it.”
In the women’s draw, Chinese hope Zhang Shuai made history by reaching the quarter-finals. The 595th-ranked player defeated Magdalena Frech 6-4, 6-2, extending her winning streak in Beijing to four matches. Zhang, who had endured a 24-match losing streak before the tournament, admitted to contemplating retirement before coming to China.
“I had no idea how to win and I didn’t want to lose another, especially with all the Chinese fans,” she said.
Zhang will face Spain’s Paula Badosa in the last eight, while Alcaraz and Sinner will battle for the China Open title on Wednesday.
