From 2022, Carlos Alcaraz And Jannik Fisherman They didn’t see each other in the final. It finally happened again, this Wednesday, in the China Openthe two being the two most relevant faces in professional tennis. Expectations were high and the Spanish and Italians delivered in spades. Only one could win and the balance tipped in an epic way during the final tie-break (7-6, 4-6 and 6-7) for the first of them, the current champion of Roland Garros And Wimbledon which also has its return to second place in the world ranking assured. [Narración y estadísticas: Alcaraz – Sinner]
It appears Alcaraz has the measure of the current number one, unable to win any of his three showdowns with Carlitos so far this year. The Murcian won in the semi-final of Indian wells and Roland Garros, and he did it again this Wednesday in the final of Beijing. With 6-4 in his overall record against Sinner, the student of Juan Carlos Ferrero places the pitch in the middle of what is considered the “classic” of this generation.
Alcaraz fulfilled his goal, which was to reach the final part of the season in top form. Ambitious goals now await us, such as Shanghai Masters 1000 And Paris-BercyTHE ATP Finals and the Cup Daviswith a stop en route to go to Saudi Arabia and play an exhibition tournament in which he will also be present Rafa Nadal.
It was a tough final for both, as Sinner predicted after his semi-final victory. That of Saint Candido reached the final after beating the local revelation, the Chinese Yunchaokete Buwhile the Murcian confidently resolved a higher level test against the Russian Daniel Medvedev. Jannik and Carlos, who know each other well, won the final like that of a grand slam and not like that of a ATP500that was what it was about after all.
From the start of the match, the equality that reigns in every confrontation between these two was confirmed. Their tenth duel as professionals began with four matches full of tension. Alcaraz had three balls to break and Sinner one until the first break of service of the match, in favor of the Spaniards, to make it 1-3.
Behind him to break It seemed the set was on track for Alcaraz, who calmly won his next two serves, including a shutout to go up 2-5. Carlos had his serve to tie the set, but then Sinner appeared, taking the pressure off, to surprise and level the score. At 5-6, Alcaraz would have had a set point but ‘Jan’ was saved with his serve to go to the score. tiebreaker.
The initiative has always been Alcaraz’s and this continued throughout much of Sudden Death. The Spanish were the first mini break and, after Sinner collected it, he broke again to have two more set points on his side. Even with his serve, he couldn’t close it out and the nerves showed, with two consecutive service losses and ultimately falling 8-6. It was time to come back.
All was not lost for Alcaraz, who had already come back from a set down in his last two matches against Sinner. The second round started at a brisk pace, with each tennis player resolving their serves without much trouble. The first “fright” came from the Italian, who saved two balls from to break at 3-3 on the scoreboard. “Jan” responded to the next match, in which the chair umpire called up to eight players. two. Alcaraz laughed almost in despair, although he managed to close his serve and continue to squeeze Sinner.
After this tiring match, the Italian had to pay. Alcaraz led 15-40 in the rest and, finally, on the fourth ball of to break On set, he made that long-awaited break to put the ground between the two. As in the first round, Carlos had the opportunity to win on serve (4-5). The Spaniard showed much more determination than before and quickly closed the second set with a resounding 0-40.
After two hours of matches, the final entered the third and final set. The first two matches were a simple formality for each, but Alcaraz was the first to step on the accelerator to put his rival on the ropes. Sinner saved two balls to breakbut on the third time, he found a very powerful direct shot from the Spaniard which put him in the score. Now, in his best moment of the match, Carlitos managed to turn the tables.
Alcaraz confirmed the to break with a acewith 15-40, and thus headed towards victory. He managed to score with the two breaking balls he had in the immediate game, but Sinner held his own on his last attempt to fight with his opponent. The Italian then collapsed and, in the umpteenth turn of events of the match, broke Carlos’ serve to regain lost ground.
The pressure fell on Alcaraz, who, trailing 5-4, served to stay alive. With suffering, he saved the vote. He had the opportunity to break on Sinner’s next serve, but he held it in a match that lasted a long time. The only thing left for the Spanish was to force the tiebreaker definitive, and he succeeded.
The excitement would last until the end, to the delight of the Chinese supporters. From 3-0 against, Alcaraz moved to 3-7 in favor after some incredible points. Impossible for Sinner to follow the cyclonic rhythm of the Spaniard, who has proclaimed himself the new Chinese “emperor”. 16th title in the career of “Carlitos”, which returns to the table.
