Carlos Alcaraz came back from two breaks of serve down in the final set to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in an exciting China Open final, 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) on Wednesday. The 21-year-old Spanish four-time Grand Slam champion claimed his first China Open title and his fourth ATP crown of 2024, taking his career total to 16 titles.
Alcaraz fought back from a set down and trailed 0-3 in the final-set tiebreak as he defeated the Italian in a three-hour, 21-minute pulsating contest. Sinner’s defeat ended his 14-match winning streak as he relinquished the Beijing crown after a fierce contest.
It was neck and neck from the very start down to the finish. Alcaraz took an early 3-1 lead in the first set, then Sinner broke him back and finally forced a tiebreak that he sealed. Alcaraz broke Sinner late in the second and leveled the match.
The third set headed for another tiebreak, dominated by Alcaraz to win on first match point.
Sinner has been allowed to continue competing while the issue of an appeal of a doping case against him is pending.
