Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz: a blockbuster final in Beijing | ATP tour

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Sinner vs Alcaraz: a blockbuster final in Beijing

ATPtour.com gives a preview of the Beijing final

October 1, 2024

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are 23 and 21 years old respectively. But they don't play like that, don't act like people that age, and aren't seen as 'young'.

Both have already grown into full-fledged superstars and are ready to lead the sport both now and in the future. Confrontations between the two are not just tennis matches. They are events, spectacles with the build-up to a heavyweight boxing fight, full of anticipation. Their match in the final of the China Open on Wednesday will be no different.

Alcaraz will take a 5-4 lead in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series into the championship match of the ATP 500. But anything can happen when the two meet for the second consecutive year in Beijing. The only guarantee is excitement.

“It will be a difficult match. We know each other very well now, but every match is different, so the situation on the pitch is also a bit different than the last two matches. But let's see,” Sinner said after his semi-final win against Buyunchaokete. “I'm happy to be in the final here again.”

Both men go into the clash on long-term winning streaks. Sinner has emerged victorious in fifteen consecutive matches and Alcaraz has won eight in a row.

Sinner is in first place by a wide margin in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, with a lead of 2,990 points over second-placed Alcaraz. The 23-year-old is in an excellent position to become the first Italian to become ATP Year End No. 1, presented by PIF award, deserves. According to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, he owns a record of 59-6, compared to Alcaraz's 47-9.

“My season is going very well and playing finals is always a great moment,” said Sinner. “I just hope tomorrow will be a good match for both of us.”

Check out the highlights of Beijing SF:

Alcaraz have won their two meetings this year – a three-setter at Indian Wells and a five-setter at Roland Garros – and claimed major trophies at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Sinner, who leads the Tour with six titles in 2024, triumphed at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

It could come down to who is the most opportunistic. Alcaraz was more dominant in Beijing and reached the final without dropping a set. However, both men have only lost serve three times, with Sinner saving 81 percent of the break points he faced (13/16), compared to 57 percent for Alcaraz (4/7).

People compare a major confrontation in sports to a collision between an unstoppable force and an immovable object. But that insinuates that one thing destroys the other. Instead, Sinner and Alcaraz are like dance partners, bringing out the best in each other to produce some of the best tennis in recent history.

“Every time we play against [each other]It's a good match,” Sinner said after beating Alcaraz in Beijing last year on his way to the semi-finals. “We try to play to our limits.”

Both are incredible shot makers who can turn a point around at any time. Sinner is a bit more stable in that regard, while Alcaraz is a bit more dynamic with his speed and coverage on the field.

Don't be surprised if they smile at each other after a sensational point. The Sinner-Alcaraz Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry is the opposite of controversial. They are good friends, who even practiced together in Villena last December at Juan Carlos Ferrero's academy of the same name.

That doesn't mean they're crossing their fingers in the hope of confrontation. Alcaraz spoke to the media in Beijing after winning the first semi-final of the tournament against Daniil Medvedev. Who did he want to face: Sinner or Buyunchaokete?

“It's clearly Bu. I'm not going to lie,” Alcaraz said with a smile. “Jannik is the best player in the world at the moment.”

But both men will really want the title in Beijing. Sinner is looking to join Novak Djokovic as the second man to successfully defend the China Open title. Alcaraz is trying to become just the fourth man to claim the trophy without dropping a set (Marat Safin, Djokovic 3x and Andy Murray).

The two best players in the world are ready to embrace this moment and put on a show again.

“I really like the fights,” Alcaraz said. “The toughest matches against the best players in the world.”