By SABC Sport
1st October 2024
Alcaraz secured his place in the China Open final after a commanding victory over Daniil Medvedev.
The Spaniard defeated the Russian 7-5, 6-3 in an 88-minute semi-final match, continuing his remarkable form.
The first set saw both players struggle to hold serve during a four-game stretch, leaving the score tied at 4-4. Alcaraz eventually broke Medvedev in the 10th game and held his serve to clinch the set in 48 minutes.
Despite Medvedev requiring two medical timeouts in the second set due to a left leg issue, Alcaraz maintained control, sealing the match on his fourth match point.
The win marks Alcaraz's eighth consecutive victory since his shock second-round exit at the US Open.
"I'm really happy that I didn't lose my focus too long in the first set," Alcaraz commented after the game.
"I recovered it as soon as I got broken, and I'm really happy that at the end of the set I was able to play really good tennis."
In the final, the Spaniard will face Sinner, who defeated home favourite Buyunchaokete 6-3, 7-6(3) in his semi-final encounter.
The Chinese player, who had only played one ATP Tour event before the recent Hangzhou ATP 250, put up a valiant fight, saving eight out of nine break points.
However, Sinner's steady performance, including saving all three break points he faced, carried him to victory after a two-hour and four-minute battle.
The Alcaraz-Sinner showdown is poised to be another chapter in their gripping ATP rivalry, with fans eager to witness the high-intensity clash on Wednesday.