Carlos Alcaraz reached the semi-finals in Beijing without losing a set, a clear indication that the Spanish ace has found his best tennis after a period of decline. The former world number 1 – who didn’t shine in the American tournaments and was eliminated in the second round at the 2024 US Open – defeated Karen Khachanov in the quarterfinals in Beijing struggling only in the first set.
The four-time Grand Slam champion seems to have found his desire to fight on the tennis court and is ready for a great season finale. Carlitos has already matched last year’s result in Beijing, but he wants to do even better. Last year he stopped in the semifinals against a great Jannik Sinner, while this year his opponent will be Daniil Medvedev.
The 21-year-old from Murcia loves playing against the Russian ace and has almost always expressed his best tennis against him. Alcaraz has already defeated Medvedev twice this year, in the final of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 and in the semi-final of the Wimbledon Championships respectively. Daniil’s last win against Carlos dates back to the 2023 US Open semi-final, when the champion from Moscow played one of the best matches of his career. This is the favorite surface of the Russian, who is still looking for his first title in 2024.
Carlitos returns No.2
Thanks to his victory over Khachanov in the quarterfinals in Beijing, Alcaraz gained the points needed to overtake Alexander Zverev and return to number 2 in the ATP ranking. The German champion could not play in Beijing because of a pneumonia, while his participation in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai is still uncertain. The Spanish ace will have to try to keep this position until the end of the season, already thinking about the 2025 Australian Open.
After his match against Khachanov, Carlitos commented on his performance: “I always try to be aggressive, hitting strong shots, and I feel like I’m not afraid to show that. To try again and again. That’s what I’m feeling right now. In the past matches, everything went well, so I can’t complain at all. I know that I have to keep trying. I’m hitting the ball really well, I’m moving well, and I’m not letting my opponents show their best tennis. It’s like the match is in my style. That’s what I like and what I want in every match.”
The Spaniard will face Medvedev
He is ready to face Medvedev: “It’s always difficult facing Medvedev. I played great matches against him earlier this year and during the past couple of years. I’m ready to take that challenge, to try to play my best tennis to pass him. It’s always a war. Long matches, long rallies, when I play against him, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
The four-time Grand Slam champion has the right weapons to put in trouble Medvedev, who will try to play a more aggressive tennis so as not to be overwhelmed by the world number 2. Alcaraz won two Major titles this year and he wants to become on the best players ever. In a recent interview during the Laver Cup, the former World No.1 discussed his amazing rivalry with Sinner: “I don’t know. This is the first year that we shared all the Grand Slams. Hopefully it’s going to keep going like that, sharing great moments, fighting for the great tournaments, the Grand Slams, Masters 1000.
So let’s see how it’s going to be in the future, the next few years, if we are going to stay like that at this level. I think we are going to build or create a relationship off the court as well. So hopefully I have him here on the tour for a long time because he pushes me to be a better player every day. He pushes me to practice at 100% just to try to beat him in the next matches. It’s great and hopefully we’ll have that rivalry that the Big Three had in their careers.”
Despite winning two Grand Slam titles and a Masters 1000 in 2024, Carlitos is far behind Jannik in the ATP ranking. The Italian ace was more consistent during the year, while the Spanish one was more discontinuous and also missed several important tournaments. The 21-year-old from Murcia did not play in the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, the Masters 1000 in Rome and not even the Masters 1000 in Montreal after the Paris Olympics. At the same time, Alcaraz will not have many points to defend in the last part of the season having achieved disappointing results last year.
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