Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner squared off again in the Beijing semifinals for the seventh time and their 3-3 head to head rivalry was tipped in favor to the Italian who prevailed 76 61. Sinner is now the first ATP player to score four wins against Alcaraz. Sinner will reach his career high best ranking of no. 4 in the world next week.
Carlos revealed his thought process after the defeat and what he needs to do to solve the Sinner puzzle…
“Against players like Jannik, if you don’t take advantage of those opportunities, it’s harder to win or stay ahead on the scoreboard,” the 20 year old said. “Obviously he also played a great level of tennis, it forced me to change my game a little bit. I couldn’t do what I always did. I tried to play deeper, but I couldn’t. I tried to play with another tactic, but it didn’t go well in that part either. This is another thing I’ll have to learn if I want to beat Jannik. Then in the second set I was mentally out. I was complaining too much, something that really makes it difficult for you to play at your best level. This is what happened. He is a very complete player, he did almost everything well, he pushes you to the limit with every shot. You have to hit every ball perfectly if you want to be alive in the point. Even if you think you hit the ball very well, he can even return it harder than yours. This is something he does really well, very well. The rest of it is also amazing & his serve is very good. It’s really difficult to play against him. I think his mobility is also very good. You have to find a way to beat him… It is complicated, that is why he is one of the best in the world.”
Sinner will face Daniil Medvedev in the Beijing final. It will be the seventh time Sinner will play the Russian and he will be looking to achieve his first win vs. the former 2021 US Open champion. Sinner has lost two finals to Medvedev this year, in Rotterdam and Miami.
Beijing Open · Carlos Alcaraz · Daniil Medvedev · Head · Jannik Sinner · Nike
Matt Segel · October 4, 2023 at 9:29 pm
Nice to see Jannik beat Alcaraz and Medvedev. Love the quotes by Alcaraz. I really like Sinner and hopes he keeps up his steady climb.
Scoop Malinowski · October 4, 2023 at 9:38 pm
Matt, the Italian players all believe Sinner will be no. 1 someday soon. Lorenzi is one of his biggest believers and he would know what it takes having played against and observed the habits of Fed, Rafa and Novak. It may happen next year. I find him amazing to watch but his personality is too reserved on court for me, if Sampras considered boring, Sinner is too. Like Pete, Sinner let’s his racquet do all the talking.
Matt Segel · October 5, 2023 at 6:46 am
I agree, he should take off the hat. He seems like a nice guy, yeah not the most exciting. He reminds me of Berdych for some reason.
Scoop Malinowski · October 5, 2023 at 7:49 am
Yes both very mechanical, sinner even resembles a mannequin. He rarely shows a fiery side, I saw it once and he played very well, Miami Open.