Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Jannik Sinner in the men's singles final of the China Open 2024, securing his maiden ATP 500 title in Beijing. The Spaniard prevailed 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 over the World No. 1 Sinner, marking their 10th encounter.
Carlos Alcaraz claims maiden China Open title
Alcaraz lost the opening set 6-7 in a thrilling contest that captivated the crowd. However, the 2024 Roland-Garros champion showcased his resilience, winning the subsequent two sets to clinch his third consecutive victory over the two-time Grand Slam champion.
Alcaraz's victory over Sinner at the China Open 2024 extended his head-to-head lead to 5-4. They previously faced off in the semifinals of the Indian Wells and Roland-Garros tournaments in 2024. Sinner, the reigning US Open champion, played exceptionally well against Alcaraz throughout the match, despite the final outcome.
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner has intensified, with both players demonstrating exceptional talent. Alcaraz, a 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist, acknowledged Sinner's remarkable abilities, describing him as an unbelievable and beast.
“He could [have won] in two, I could win in two, he could win in three. It was a really close match. 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," Alcaraz said in the post-match presentation.
“I never lost hope, 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," Alcaraz added.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz are scheduled to compete in the upcoming Shanghai Masters 2024, potentially leading to another clash between these two talented players. Despite his defeat in the China Open, Sinner is poised to finish the 2024 ATP season as the Year-End No. 1. He currently leads the ATP rankings with 11,180 points, maintaining a comfortable margin of over 4000 points over second-placed Alexander Zverev.
