Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will clash for the eleventh time in the Beijing China Open final after dismissing Medvedev and Bu, respectively in the semifinals.
Sinner, the defending Beijing champion, is playing under a dark cloud of controversy as the anti-doping group WADA, has appealed his explanation for testing positive twice earlier this year for using the banned drug Clostebol. But he’s managed to win fifteen matches in a row including US Open.
Carlos has won eight matches in a row, including French Open and Wimbledon.
In their ten previous duels, Sinner won the only other final they played, in Umag 2022.
The interesting symmetry of the Carlos vs Sinner rivalry is each player has alternated winning two matches vs the other. So far, neither has been able to top the other three times in a row, just two times, which Carlos has done three times and Sinner twice.
Carlos won the last two matches – Indian Wells semis 16 63 62 and French Open semis 26 63 36 64 63 this year. Sinner won the previous two meetings last year Miami 67 64 62 and Beijing final 76 61.
Carlos won the first match they ever played in Alicante Challenger 2019 first round 62 36 63.
So if form holds and history repeats, expect Sinner to win this Beijing final and the next time they play which would balance the rivalry at 6-6.
(Carlos painting by Ted Dimond.)
ATP · Carlos Alcaraz · China Open · Jannik Sinner
Steve · October 2, 2024 at 8:34 am
The sneaker break really threw Sinner off during the tie-break. It totally iced his mojo.
Scoop Malinowski · October 2, 2024 at 9:18 am
Didn’t bother Guga Kuerten when his white Diadora shoe broke in the ATP WTF final in Lisbon 2000. Luckily he had a black back up pair and proceeded to crush Agassi after the footwear malfunction.
Steve · October 2, 2024 at 9:56 am
No, I mean Carlos suddenly had a sneaker issue when the tie break got tight and Sinner seemed in control. It felt like Carlso took a full 10 minutes to swap sneakers and Sinner lost his momentum.
Scoop Malinowski · October 2, 2024 at 10:13 am
Oh it was a stall tactic by Carlos, brilliant.
Scoop Malinowski · October 3, 2024 at 7:42 am
Surface fake friendship? “Once we are on tour traveling, during the tournament, we are with our teams in all rounds. So we don’t speak much. But when we can, we talk a little bit besides tennis..about life. We have a good relationship, but we are not close friends.” – Carlos
Steve · October 3, 2024 at 10:43 am
Tomorrow Shapo vs. Shelton, Paul vs. Fognini and let’s see if Shang can do anything against Carlos.
Steve · October 3, 2024 at 11:08 am
Both great guys, I think but can’t be buddies. Carlos plays the highest level I ever seen but, obviously, Sinner is more consistent day in/day out.
Scoop Malinowski · October 3, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Sinner has a little more firepower, almost a heavyweight vs light heavyweight match up. Borg confessed he hated anyone he played on the court. Yes Borg, mild mannered, stoic Borg hated his opponents. He also said he was seething inside under the mask. Maybe someday Carlos and Sinner will tell the truth.
Scoop Malinowski · October 3, 2024 at 12:13 pm
Intrigued by all of these three matchups. Shapo has to revive himself and come back to life as a top ten player not a zombie outside 100. Fognini doesn’t want to quit and if he can beat a guy like Paul, it shows he can play top 15 ball again. Shang is a wildcard, he’s on the cusp of superstardom with all his talent, I think he will rise to the occasion and show us his magic vs Carlos.
Steve · October 4, 2024 at 8:39 am
Seyboth Wild getting a steady stream of coaching throughout his match with Meddy but his brutish power still wasn’t enough against the charming & lovable Russian.
For Wild a ranking of 60ish seems like where he’s gonna be unless something drastically changes. Despite possessing Basilashvili-like power on both sides he’s a little too slow and a little too error prone to consistently beat the 2nd tier players.
Scoop Malinowski · October 4, 2024 at 12:26 pm
Steve, First saw Seyboth Wild at US Open juniors, I think he was even no. 1 seed but he got crushed by a kid named Jakub Paul of Switzerland, who I projected to have a better ATP career as he seemed to play like deMinaur, just a wall on the baseline taking everything early and sending it back. Wild looked ordinary that day but has had some impressive matches in ATP though he hasn’t had consistent results. 57 57 vs Medvedev is a good effort. All of these players are capable of doing what Fearnley is doing right now, busting out of obscurity.