Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are on track to face each other in what promises to be an exciting final at the China Open, after both players secured victories in their respective quarter-final matches on Monday.
Jannik Sinner showcased his prowess on the court as he advanced into the semi-finals with a convincing 6-2, 7-6 win over the Czech player Jiri Lehecka. This match came just two days after the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed its intention to impose a ban of one to two years on the US Open champion due to two positive tests for an anabolic steroid back in March. Despite the surrounding controversy, the 23-year-old Italian displayed remarkable focus and determination, dominating the first set and effectively neutralizing Lehecka’s serve. Although he faced a challenging situation in the second-set tiebreak, where he was down two set points at 4-6, Sinner demonstrated resilience by closing out the match. This victory marks his 14th consecutive win, and now he looks ahead to a semi-final clash against the local favorite, Yunchaokete Bu, who thrilled the home crowd by defeating fourth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4. Bu’s earlier triumph over sixth seed Lorenzo Musetti further emphasizes the underdog’s rising profile in the tournament.
On the other side of the draw, second seed Carlos Alcaraz continued to impress as he secured his place in the semi-finals with a solid 7-5, 6-2 victory over Karen Khachanov. The reigning champion, at just 21 years old, showcased his typical relentless approach from the baseline, systematically wearing down Khachanov’s serve. Throughout the match, Alcaraz capitalized on four of 12 break-point opportunities, allowing him to emerge victorious in a swift 96 minutes. This win marks Alcaraz’s impressive 46th victory of the season and allows him to climb above the absent Alexander Zverev in the ATP live rankings, taking the second spot. In the next round, Alcaraz will square off against Daniil Medvedev, who secured his own place in the semi-finals with a decisive 6-2, 6-4 win over Flavio Cobolli. Medvedev demonstrated his competitive edge by significantly reducing unforced errors and converting four of eight break-point chances throughout his match, completing it in a solid 88 minutes.
Meanwhile, in Tokyo, Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils delivered thrilling performances at the Japan Open as they prepared to face each other in an all-French final. Humbert overcame Tomas Machac in a closely contested battle, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. With this victory, the world No. 19 aims to extend his perfect 6-0 record in tour finals when he takes on his countryman, Fils, who is ranked 24th. Fils advanced to the final by overcoming the last remaining seed, Holger Rune from Denmark, in an exhilarating match that ended with identical scorelines of 7-6 in both sets. The 20-year-old, who clinched his first title of the season on clay in Hamburg earlier this July, is now in pursuit of his second title as he squares off against Humbert.
The atmosphere is building up for a thrilling conclusion to these tournaments as fans eagerly anticipate the outcomes of these exciting matchups.
World of sports 
Leave a comment