Carlos Alcaraz won the ATP 500 in Beijing and showed that he was back at a very high level after the American tournaments, where he had expressed a very low level for his standards. World #2 claimed his fourth title in 2024 by beating Jannik Sinner in a memorable final, which ended in the decisive tiebreak after more than three hours.
The Spanish champion defeated the Italian ace for the third time this season, after triumphing in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 at Indian Wells and in the semifinal of the French Open. Carlitos – who is already certain to return to second place in the ATP ranking by surpassing Sascha Zverev – has really expressed a great tennis and has inserted seven consecutive points in the decisive tiebreak shocking the crowd.
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner is destined to electrify fans, who have been able to witness a truly epic chapter on the hard court of the Chinese capital. The two young champions are the best players in the world at the moment and it is no coincidence that they have monopolized the four Majors played in 2024. The 21-year-old from Murcia prevailed at the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships, while the 23-year-old from San Candido won the Australian Open and the US Open demonstrating an incredible consistency.
Carlitos will face Shang in Shanghai
Thanks to the victory in the ATP 500 in Beijing, Carlitos has come slightly closer to Jannik in the ATP ranking in view of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. Alcaraz will not have much time to rest, as his debut in Shanghai is scheduled for Friday or Saturday. The Spanish ace already knows the name of his first opponent, who is young Chinese prospect Juncheng Shang.
Before he can focus on the next tournament, the 21-year-old from Murcia has a day to enjoy his triumph in Beijing after a beautiful final. “Right now, I am very happy. When you are able to beat one of the best, if not the best player in the world, you feel like you are doing everything right, that you are doing a great job. I am very proud of everything I have done in the last month, working very hard physically and on the court.
It has been a very intense month, but I am happy to finish it with the title here in Beijing after a truly amazing match” – Carlos explained during the press conference. “Both of us displayed a very high level of tennis, also mentally and physically, running until the last ball, moving from side to side, with great points in the tiebreak of the third set. I am very happy to have achieved victory” – he added.
The former world number 1 has recovered after a bad period: “After the North American tour, I felt a little down, didn’t want to touch a racket for a while, didn’t want to travel. Then we talked a lot during those days, knowing that I had to get back to training, to be physically stronger, to be mentally stronger to overcome those moments. In the last month, we have been working very hard both on and off the court to be able to experience a moment like this again. That’s why I think Ferrero got emotional; this has been a special moment for both me and the people around me.”
A remarkable 2024
The four-time Grand Slam champion also made a remarkable comeback in 2024, becoming the youngest player in tennis history to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. During the press conference, Alcaraz also discussed Sinner’s doping case: “I think for tennis it’s not really good, not really a good sign for tennis in general. I thought it was closed. This month I didn’t know what happened exactly. I just saw the news and it surprised me a little bit. Okay, what’s going on, that the case is open again? I don’t know how it’s going to be in the next few months. For sure, to tennis, not a good sign.”
Probably, as he said before New York, people started to look at him in a different way. I don’t know how it can be, but for sure I understand the position. I feel for him. The game and the level that he’s playing with everything he’s been through right now, it’s insane. He is able to put all things aside when he steps on court, playing good tennis, it is unbelievable. I hope that with his people around, his close people and him, he is not going to feel bad these next few months.”