October 02, (THEWILL) – Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious in an intense match against Jannik Sinner at the China Open on Wednesday. The Spanish tennis star triumphed 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 7-6 (7/3) in a gruelling contest that lasted three hours and 21 minutes. This victory marks Alcaraz’s fourth ATP title of 2024 and his 16th overall.
The match was characterised by dramatic shifts in momentum. Alcaraz, who will return to world number two ranking following this win, found himself trailing 3-0 in the final-set tiebreak. However, he mounted a remarkable comeback to clinch the title. This defeat ended Sinner’s impressive 14-match winning streak and dethroned him as the Beijing champion.
During the victory presentation, Alcaraz praised Sinner’s performance, acknowledging the Italian’s outstanding year. He expressed his respect for Sinner both as a player and as an individual. The match took place amid increased attention on Sinner due to a recent doping case.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has appealed the decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing in a case involving a positive test for a steroid in March. Sinner had previously been cleared by tennis authorities, who accepted his explanation that the substance entered his system unintentionally through a spray used by his physiotherapist. WADA is now seeking a ban of up to two years.
Despite the off-court controversy, both players delivered a high-quality performance on the court. The match was closely contested throughout, with each set featuring intense rallies and crucial break points. Alcaraz’s victory in Beijing adds another impressive achievement to his growing list of accomplishments in professional tennis.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
