Sinner upsets Alcaraz to setup Medvedev match-up in China Open Final

Jannik Sinner of Italy defeated top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (4), 6-1 on Tuesday to reach the China Open finals in Beijing where he would face Daniil Medvedev who defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the first semi-final.

Sinner outplayed Alcaraz in key moments to win in straight sets and become the first player to win four tour-level matches against the world No. 2.

Sinner gained momentum after trailing by a break twice and nearly falling 0-3 behind in the first set, fighting off two break points. In the deciding tiebreak, he outplayed Alcaraz and took the lead against all odds.

Sinner's momentum carried over into the second set, where Alcaraz struggled to break Sinner. The Wimbledon champion blew five break points, an area of his game that has been bothering him in recent months.

Sinner took advantage and won the match with four games in a row.

Medvedev has won four of five meetings with Zverev this year

In the earlier semi-final, A break in each set was enough for world No. 3 Medvedev as he defeated Zverev 6-4 6-3.

Medvedev is now 4-1 against Zverev in 2023 and leads the overall head-to-head record 10-7. The 2021 US Open champion performed admirably to defeat Zverev once more.

After a brilliant passing shot, scrambling to reach a volley, and then putting it away past Medvedev at the net, the German had a chance to break at 3-3. But Medvedev held on, helped by some fine shot-making of his own, firing a cross-court winner past Zverev.

Medvedev's first opportunity to break came in the tenth game. Zverev rallied from 15-40 down, but Medvedev won the set on the third try with a forehand winner down the line.

In the second set, Medvedev saved two break points to take a 2-1 lead.

In the eighth game, the decisive moment of a high-quality set occurred. At 15-30, Zverev did well to win a point, passing Medvedev at the net after a long rally, but it was the Russian who won the next two points to take the game, securing the break with a winner down the line.

Medvedev then confidently served out the victory, securing his place in the final.

SportsLigue