By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty
Shooting fireworks explode when world no.1 Jannik the Sinner meet the most exciting player in the world Carlos Alcaraz.
Down 0-3 in the final-set tiebreaker, Alcaraz rattled off seven straight points, outdueling Sinner 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3) in a thrilling Beijing final.
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Reigning Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz snapped Sinner’s 15-match winning streak and 9-0 run in Beijing, knocking out the reigning champion in a thrilling final that Sinner called one of the top 5 matches of his career. his.
“It’s definitely in the top three, top five (games I’ve played),” Sinner said. “7-6 in the third in a final, it’s always difficult. I’ve had some great matches in the past, even if I’m still a young player.
“But yeah, I’m always happy to have new experiences, trying to grow. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. That’s the way this sport is. There are a lot of highs and sometimes there are lows. It’s all good.”
Third-ranked Alcaraz defeated Sinner for the sixth time in 10 meetings. Since losing to Sinner in the semifinals of Beijing 2023, Alcaraz has won the last three meetings: in Indian Wells, the semifinals of Roland Garros and Beijing.
Sincaraz Chapter 10: Complete ✅
Great respect between these two 👏@carlosalcaraz | @janniksin | @ChinaOpen | #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/KtS8Ar0yEE
— ATP Tour (@atptur) October 2, 2024
The top-ranked Sinner had won 18 of his last 19 games before Alcaraz turned the tables on the contest to take the final set.
“When Jannik and I face each other, playing against each other, I think it’s a very good thing for tennis because we always show a really intense match, really close matches, great points, great rallies” , Alcaraz said. “I think that for people who don’t watch tennis, maybe thanks to these matches they start watching tennis or even practice it. I think it’s very good.
“I try to enjoy playing against him as much as I can, but it’s not easy. I’m very happy. I mean, when you’re able to beat one of the best tennis players, if not the best, in world. , it definitely seems like you’re doing the right things, doing the right job.”
Reigning US Open and Australian Open champion Sinner said this quality final was a reminder that there is still work to be done.
“I feel like it’s always good when we meet, right? We try to push ourselves and each other to the limits,” Sinner said. “That for me is a point where I work. Also today I saw some things where I need to improve. It’s not just him, there are other players too.
“It’s always nice to share the pitch with him. I feel like the fans, they like it. Usually the games are quite long, they’re physical, there’s a lot of turning points. Yes, like I said, it’s always nice. Feel privileged and honored to share the court with him”.
