China Open: Alcaraz Outlasts US Open Champ Sinner in Epic Battle

Carlos Alcaraz clinched his first China Open title after a thrilling comeback against world number one Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion from Spain, overcame an early deficit to win the closely fought final with scores of 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3). This victory marks his fourth ATP title of the year and the 16th in his career.

In a match lasting over three hours, Alcaraz staged an impressive comeback from 3-0 down in the final-set tie-break, eventually prevailing against Sinner, who had been on a 14-match winning streak. The win not only earned Alcaraz the title but also ended Sinner’s reign as the defending Beijing champion.

During the victory presentation, Alcaraz praised Sinner for his exceptional year and expressed great respect for him both as a player and a person.

Sinner, the current US Open champion, has been under considerable pressure recently due to renewed scrutiny over a doping case. Despite this, he managed a strong start in the final, which initially saw both players struggling to hold their serves.

Alcaraz managed to break Sinner early for a 3-1 lead, but Sinner responded by winning the first set in a tie-break after saving set points. The second set remained tight until Alcaraz broke to lead 5-4 and then held his serve to push the match into a deciding third set, which he won in another tie-break.

Sinner, who has been embroiled in controversy after testing positive for a steroid, had previously been cleared by tennis authorities. They accepted his explanation that the substance entered his system accidentally through a spray used by his physiotherapist. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed this decision, seeking a suspension of up to two years.

In the women’s draw, top seed Aryna Sabalenka extended her winning streak to 15 matches by defeating Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarter-finals. Sabalenka is set to face Karolina Muchova next, continuing her pursuit of further success this season.