December 22, 2024
Carlos Alcaraz showed glimpses of his most scintillating tennis as he soared to a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over wild card Wu Yibing for his 50th tour-level win of the year at ongoing the Rolex Shanghai Masters.
Having clinched his fourth title of the season at the China Open earlier this week, Alcaraz remains unbeaten since his shock second-round exit at the US Open and has now claimed 100 hard-court wins.
“He is recovering his level. He’s coming back from injury, but his level deserves to be at the top for sure,” Alcaraz said of Wu. “If he keeps playing at this level, I’m pretty sure I’m going to see him around more often. I’m just really happy to get through.
“I don’t want to say I was surprised, but it was the first time I was playing against him. He just beat [Nicolas] Jarry really easily, 6-2, 6-2, so that’s impressive. I had to be focused on playing my best. I’m not used to feeling the feelings I had on the court. He is a really powerful player, plays really strong, so I felt like I was not dominating the game.”
Alcaraz is set to face either Gael Monfils or Tokyo finalist Ugo Humbert for a spot in the last eight in Shanghai.
Elsewhere, World No.1 Jannik Sinner who seek for his seventh title in 2024 at ATP Masters 1000 event, progressed to the fourth round in Shanghai.
The 23-year-old Italian prevailing 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 in two hours and 39 minutes to improve to 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“It was a very tough match, physically [and] mentally, so I am very happy to get through this one,” said Sinner, who is seeking a seventh title in 2024 in Shanghai. “I felt like it was a tough set that I lost. I had my chances [to win the set], but these things can happen.
“Sometimes you have to wait for your chances, which I have done, trying to stay calm mentally, and today that was the key.”
Sinner will face either Roberto Carballes Baena or Ben Shelton to secure his spot in the quarter-finals.
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