In a battle of titans, Carlos Alcaraz edges world no. 1 Jannik Sinner 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 in the Beijing Open title, lifting the 16th ATP title after three hours and 21 minutes! It was an incredible duel between the two world’s best players, and it went down to the wire.
The Spaniard was a better player, although he stood near the exit door, trailing 3-0 in the final tie break before rattling off seven points en route to a trophy. Carlos missed a massive opportunity in the opening set, forging a 5-2 advantage and squandering three set points before falling in the tie break after 70 minutes.
The Spaniard held in the first game of the match and created three break points in the next one with a forehand down the line winner. World no. 1 stayed composed, denying them and holding for 1-1, avoiding an early setback. World no.
3 missed a backhand in the third game, offering his rival a break point and denying it after a forehand error from the defending champion. Alcaraz stepped in on the return at 2-1, creating a break chance with a volley winner.
The four-time Major winner seized it after the Italian’s loose backhand, moving 3-1 in front and forging the first advantage. The younger player held at 30 in the fifth game, cementing the break and extending the gap.
Jannik held at 30 in the sixth game, and Carlos responded with a hold at love a few minutes later, taking an entertaining exchange and remaining in front. Sinner extended the set with a hold in game eight and made a push on the return in the next one.
The Italian landed a return winner for a break point and converted it after drawing the opponent’s mistake, reducing the deficit to 5-4 and extending the set. They served well in the next two games, and world no. 1 needed another fine hold at 5-6 to prolong the battle.
Jannik hit a double fault and offered Carlos a set point. The defending champion denied it with a volley winner and held, introducing a tie break. There were no mini-breaks in the opening six points, and Alcaraz grabbed a mini-break at 3-3 after the rival’s forehand mistake.
Carlos Alcaraz prevailed over Jannik Sinner in the Beijing Open final.
World no. 3 lost a point on serve at 4-3 before passing the world’s best player at the net with a powerful backhand for 6-4 and two set points.
The Italian saved the first on his serve and the second with a deep return, locking the result at 6-6. Carlos sprayed an error and offered Jannik a set point. The Spaniard played another loose shot, allowing his rival to wrap up the opener in 70 minutes after a notable comeback.
Both players struggled behind the second serve in the second set. Alcaraz played well in the pivotal moments, defending two break points and seizing one of four break chances, which made the difference. There were no chances for the returners in the opening six games.
Carlos closed the second game with a hold at 30 and locked the result at 2-2 after providing a comfortable hold. Jannik mirrored that in the next one and reached a deuce on the return in game six before his opponent closed it for 3-3 and more drama.
World no. 3 stepped in on the return in the seventh game and cracked a return winner for two break points. The defending champion denied them with fine hitting, holding and remaining on the positive side.
Sinner had a chance to build a massive advantage in the eighth game after many deuces and two break chances. Alcaraz kept his composure and denied them, overcoming a difficult situation and bringing the game hold for 4-4. The Spaniard gained a boost and defended nicely before welcoming the rival’s backhand error for two break points.
He converted the second after Jannik’s loose forehand, moving 5-4 in front and serving for the set. Carlos did that in style, holding at love with a service winner and forcing a decider after two hours and eight minutes. Carried by this boost, world no.
3 had the edge in the first part of the final set, serving well and missing a chance to collect a double break. They produced comfortable holds in the opening games before Alcaraz made a push at 1-1, generating three break chances.
He attacked on the third and drew the rival’s mistake, building the advantage and moving closer to the finish line. The Spaniard cemented the lead with a hold at 15 and had an opportunity to break the rival’s resistance at 3-1.
Sinner faced two break points in the fifth game, saving them and producing a vital hold that kept him alive. Carlos delivered another relaxing hold in game six and wished for more at 4-3. Instead, Jannik pulled the break back after the opponent’s groundstroke error, locking the result at 4-4 and becoming a contender again.
The Spaniard served to stay in the match in game ten and stood two points from losing the match.
He kept his composure and held with a service winner, leveling the score at 5-5 and increasing the drama.
Sinner faced a break point in the 11th game, defending it with a service winner and holding after Alcaraz’s careless forehand for a 6-5 lead. World no. 3 served to stay in the match in game 12 and held with a smash winner, introducing a deciding tie break.
The Italian grabbed a mini-break in the second point with a drop shot winner and landed a sharp return for a 3-0 advantage. The Spaniard pulled one mini-break back with a volley winner at the net and won an incredible rally for 2-3.
Carlos landed a service winner in the sixth point and fired another volley winner for a 4-3 lead. Alcaraz cracked a forehand winner for 5-3, extending his streak and generating three match points after Sinner’s mistake. The Spaniard blasted another forehand winner, sealing the deal in style and conquering the title.