Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz clinched the China Open title by defeating top-seeded Italy’s Jannik Sinner in a thrilling three-set battle, winning 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3). With this victory, Alcaraz maintained his dominance over Sinner this year, marking his third win against him in three matches. Previously, he had defeated Sinner in the semifinals of both the Indian Wells and the French Open.
With this loss, reigning champion Sinner saw his impressive 14-match winning streak come to an end. Alcaraz secured the title by winning seven consecutive points in the decisive tiebreaker. Sinner found it challenging to maintain his focus during the match, especially since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on Saturday that it would appeal against the decision to clear him in a doping case. WADA is seeking a one- or two-year ban against him. Sinner was found guilty of using a banned substance twice in March, but an independent tribunal cleared him in August.
Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, currently ranked second in the women’s world rankings, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Madison Keys in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. With this victory, she matched her career-best streak of 15 consecutive wins. The three-time Grand Slam champion began this winning run by clinching the Cincinnati Open in August and continued her success by winning the year’s final Grand Slam, the US Open, last month. Sabalenka also secured the Australian Open earlier this year. Previously, she achieved a 15-match winning streak during the 2020-21 season. The 26-year-old will face Czech Republic’s Karolína Muchová in the quarterfinals, who defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucșa 6-2, 6-0.