The two best tennis players in the world right now are playing a high-class final in Beijing. In the end, Carlos Alcaraz narrowly wins.
Carlos Alcaraz has won the ATP tournament in Beijing. The 21-year-old Spaniard beat the Italian world number one Jannik Sinner 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in a high-class final on Wednesday, celebrating his fourth title this year. Alcaraz, who had already won the Grand Slam tournaments at Roland Garros and Wimbledon this season, converted his first match point after 3 hours and 21 minutes.
Sinner won the title at the tournament in the Chinese capital last year. During the current edition, it was announced that the Wada is appealing in the current doping case against the Italian. Despite the turmoil, the two-time Grand Slam champion showed his best tennis and only just missed out on defending the title.
Sinner remains number one
“It was such a close match. Jannik showed once again why he is the best player in the world right now,” Alcaraz said after the dramatic game. The Spaniard will move past Alexander Zverev again into second place in the world rankings by winning the title. Sinner remains the undisputed number one.
Alcaraz got off to the better start in the dream final and was quickly one break ahead in the first set. But the Spaniard was unable to maintain the lead and squandered a total of three set points before Sinner took the set in a tiebreak after 70 minutes.
Sinner dominated the action for a while, but was unable to take his chances in the second set. Instead, Alcaraz managed to equalize the set after 2 hours and 7 minutes. In the third set, the two currently dominant players continued to fight a thrilling battle, which Alcaraz finally won in a tiebreak.
Zverev is back in Shanghai
Zverev had canceled his appearance at the top-class tournament in the Chinese capital due to pneumonia. However, the 2021 Olympic champion is now feeling better and will therefore compete in the Masters 1000 event in Shanghai, which started on Wednesday.
Zverev is seeded second in the metropolis, behind Sinner. The Hamburg native has a bye in the first round and will then face a qualifier. Alcaraz has also registered for the event.