Carlos Alcaraz Triumphs Over Jannik Sinner in Grueling China Open Final

The men’s final of the 2024 China Open was framed as a clash of titans, delivering on expectations with an exhilarating match. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defeated world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a thrilling three-set encounter, ending with scores of 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 to claim his 16th ATP Tour title.

Alcaraz and Sinner, recognized as two of the most formidable players in tennis today, showcased their prowess with remarkable rallies throughout the match. Despite his victory, world No. 3 Alcaraz lavished praise on his Italian opponent, describing him as “the best player in the world” and commending his high-quality tennis performance.

Both athletes had split the four grand slam titles this year. Sinner secured the Australian Open and the US Open, while Alcaraz emerged victorious at Wimbledon and the French Open. In this Beijing match, Alcaraz started strong but Sinner responded by taking the first set in a tense tiebreak.

Sinner, on a 15-match winning streak, pressured Alcaraz in the second set. However, Alcaraz held his ground, ultimately equalizing to set the stage for a decisive third set.

In that final set, Alcaraz initially led 3-1 but Sinner fought back, forcing a tiebreaker where he led 3-0. Alcaraz, however, rallied dramatically to win seven consecutive points, clinching the title in the longest match in the tournament’s history, lasting three hours and 21 minutes.

“I’m really happy that in the third set, even though he broke my serve again and we were really close, I gave myself the chance to keep going,” Alcaraz shared post-match, expressing his satisfaction with his aggressive play.

With this victory, Alcaraz has now won ATP 500 titles on all three surfaces since the series began in 2009. Meanwhile, Sinner is navigating a challenging phase off the court. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has recently lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against a tribunal’s decision that cleared Sinner of blame for testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Sinner claimed inadvertent contamination via treatment by his physiotherapist.

The tennis world continues to watch this rivalry develop, with both players having immense respect for each other. Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy ceremony, “I respect you a lot as a player but even more as a person,” while Sinner acknowledged Alcaraz’s “amazing” performance. Despite the loss, Sinner remains optimistic, looking forward to future matches, including his upcoming participation in Shanghai.