China Open: Alcaraz pip Sinner for maiden Beijing crown

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner in a tense championship match on Wednesday at the China Open, extending his perfect year against the formidable opponent.

The 21-year-old Spaniard overcame World No. 1 Sinner 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3), securing the victory at the ATP 500 in Beijing.

After losing the first and third sets, Alcaraz rallied to win the deciding set tie-break with seven straight points from 0/3. It was the longest match in tournament history, lasting three hours and twenty-one minutes.

“He could [have won] in two, I could win in two, he could win in three. It was a really close match,” said Alcaraz. “Jannik, once again, he showed that he’s the best player in the world, at least for me. The level that he’s playing, it’s unbelievable. It’s a really high quality of tennis. Of shots, physically, mentally, he’s a beast.”

With three victories this season (at Indian Wells, Roland Garros, and Beijing), Alcaraz now leads his ATP Head to Head matchups versus Sinner, 6-4.

Since their first tour-level match in 2021, the two’s rivalry has fluctuated, and it is expected to continue to be a key source of attention on the ATP Tour for years to come. However, this is the first occasion that either player has defeated the other three times in a row.

Before the deciding-set tie-break, Sinner had won eighteen of his previous nineteen tie-breaks, but Alcaraz came back from a 0/3 deficit to win the match with some of his greatest tennis.

“I never lost hope,” said Alcaraz. “Honestly I knew that [when I started it] that every tie-break Jannik plays is almost to his side. I thought that in the third set, I’m not going to lie, 3-love down, two mini breaks for him. So I didn’t lose hope, but I thought, ‘Okay, I have to give everything that I have just to try to give myself the opportunity to be close.’

“I played great points just to make 3-all and after that I just thought to go for it. If I lost it, at least I went for it. So that’s all I thought in that moment.”

Alcaraz became the first player in series history (since 2009) to win an ATP 500 title on all three surfaces (hard, clay, and grass) with his performance at the Beijing hardcourts. Alcaraz will next take the field at the Rolex Shanghai Masters alongside his competitor Sinner.

“During the whole week I’ve been playing great tennis,” said Alcaraz of his Beijing run. “Probably sometimes the luck went to my side a little bit in the matches. But in general I feel great on court, I feel great off the court as well with my team.

“It’s really important to feel like you are in a good mood all the time off the court, just try to show good tennis and be calm on the court. I think I couldn’t ask for a better week here in Beijing and I will try to keep going.”

Alcaraz’s victory over Sinner also lessened the Italian’s lead over the Spaniard in the competition for the PIF-sponsored ATP Year-End No. 1 ranking. As a gauge for the competition for Year-End No. 1, the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin has Alcaraz in second place, 2,820 points behind Sinner in first.