Alcaraz gets past Sinner to win the China Open and is 3-for-3 against his top rival this year

BEIJING (AP) Carlos Alcaraz won seven consecutive points in the decisive tiebreak to defeat highest ranked Jannik Sinner 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3) to win the China Open on Wednesday, extending his recent mastery over his biggest rival, who faces an ongoing doping case.

The third-ranked Alcaraz has now won all three of his meetings with Sinner this year, having also come out on top in the semi-finals of Indian Wells and the French Open.

He could have won in two, I could have won in two, he could have won in three. It was a very exciting match, Alcaraz said. Jannik, he has shown again that he is the best player in the world, at least for me. The level he is playing is unbelievable. It is really high quality tennis. Off shots, physically, mentally, he's a beast.

Alcaraz ended Sinner's winning streak after 15 matches, denying the Italian three straight titles after trophies in Cincinnati and at the US Open.

Sinner, the defending champion in Beijing, had to refocus after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced on Saturday that it had appealed the decision to clear him of misconduct after two positive steroid tests.

Alcaraz squandered a 5-2 lead in the first set and also allowed Sinner to come back in the third after leading 4-2 before eventually erasing the lead after also falling behind 3-0 in the final set tiebreak.

Alcaraz changed both shoes after falling behind 2-0 in the third set tiebreak. He then lost another point before going on a seven-point run, showing why he's a threat anywhere on the field. There were inside-out forehand winners, including one on his first match point, a difficult volley approach shot, and also a drop shot.

“I'm not going to lie: 3-0 down, two minibreaks ahead of him, so I didn't lose hope, but I thought, okay, I have to give everything I have, just to give me the chance to be close,” Alcaraz said. I played some nice points to make it 3-3 and then I think I'll just go for it. If I lose it, at least I went for it.

Alcaraz produced 55 winners for Sinners 30, but also had 52 unforced errors for his opponents (31), a sign of their contrasting styles: Alcaraz's attacking play versus Sinner's steady baseline approach.

The match, played in cool conditions with the retractable roof open, lasted 3 hours and 21 minutes, making it the longest match in tournament history (since 2004).

Sinner and Alcaraz are responsible for all four Grand Slam titles this year, both tied at two: Sinner won the Australian Open and the US Open, while Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon.

Alcaraz improved to 6-4 in his career against Sinner after their 10th meeting in what has become a top tennis rivalry after the 60 matches between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

I respect you enormously as a player, but even more as a person, Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy presentation.

Sinner congratulated Alcaraz on a great achievement.

Hopefully we can play a few more times in the future, which I'm pretty sure I will, Sinner said. It is always a great pleasure to share the court with you.

WADA is seeking a one- to two-year ban for Sinner in a case that may not be resolved until Sinner begins defending his case. Australian Open title in January.

Sinner tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March, but was not banned in a ruling by an independent court announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency in August as the ITIA determined he was not to blame.

Sinners accepted the statement as follows the forbidden performance enhancer inadvertently entered his system via a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray of the steroid to treat his own cut finger.

Sinner thanked his team and his family for their support.

Today we fell short, but it was another great battle and in a few days there will be another opportunity, said Sinner, looking ahead to his next event in Shanghai.

Sabalenka extends winning streak to 15 games

Second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka equaled her career best of 15 straight wins after beating Madison Keys 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals of the women's tournament in Beijing.

The three-time Grand Slam winner started her streak with a title in Cincinnati in August and continued with a run to the championship at the US Open last month. She also won the Australian Open earlier in the year. Her previous streak of 15 was achieved in the 2020-2021 seasons.

If you can sacrifice a lot and work hard and achieve these victories, that's the best feeling, Sabalenka said.

The Belarusian has won 30 of 31 sets played during her current streak, dropping just one set to Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round of the US Open.

That form guide quickly played out again as Sabalenka broke the No. 24-ranked Keys in the third game of the first set and then dominated on serve for an efficient 65-minute performance, improving her head-to-head record against the American. to 4-1.

Sabalenka will play Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals after the Czech defeated Cristina Bucsa 6-2, 6-0.

Also, Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen defeated Amanda Anisimova 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Shanghai Masters

French veteran Gael Monfils reached the second round of the Shanghai Masters with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Damir Dzumhur.

The 38-year-old Monfils will next play against 22nd seeded Argentinian Sebastian Baez.

Arthur Rinderknech also advanced with a 6-4, 7-6 (5) victory over American Reilly Opelka, while Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands defeated Pablo Carreo Busta 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Alexandre Muller also rallied from a set down to 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 over Italian Luca Nardi.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis